Editor’s note: ‘Twas the Season of Advent by Glenys Nellist is a beautiful children’s book illustrated by Elena Selivanova. Let this devotion bless you today. Come to the manger of Jesus!
*
And if you peeked into those houses at night,
You’d see Christmas décor — what a wonderful sight!
A tree sparkling brightly, all silver and green,
And there, in the corner, a sweet manger scene…
She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped Him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed Him in a manger. — Luke 2:7
One morning, more than two thousand years ago, a carpenter in Bethlehem had a job to do. He went to his workshop and picked up his saw, a hammer, some nails, and a few pieces of wood. The carpenter whistled as he worked, and when he’d finished, he stood back to admire the manger he’d made. It was small, but strong. It would be a wonderful feeding trough for the animals.
The manger was placed in a stable and every day cows and sheep and goats would peek inside and eat their food from it. They didn’t have to wait their turn. They crowded around it, because the manger held what they needed.
One special night, when Bethlehem’s skies were filled with a brilliant light, God opened the gates of Heaven and came down to earth.
God didn’t come in a blaze of fire. God didn’t ride in on a gleaming chariot. God didn’t march in on a mighty horse. God came quietly, in the night, like a whisper, while the world was asleep. God crept in as a tiny, helpless baby called Jesus.
And the manger became His bed.
- All year round, and especially during Advent, God invites us to come to the manger.
God invites us to peek inside, to ponder this newborn babe who would grow up to change the world. And the beautiful thing is that we can all come to the manger — we don’t have to wait our turn. There is room for everyone. There is room for you. No matter how young or old we are, no matter what we look like, or where we live, we can crowd around the manger, because the manger holds what we need: Jesus.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for the carpenter who made the manger. Be with us this Advent, as we wait for the wonderful day when we will celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Excerpted with permission from ‘Twas the Season of Advent by Glenys Nellist, copyright Glenys Nellist.
* * *
Your Turn
Come to the manger today! Don’t wait. This Advent season, approach Jesus. Let Him in. He loves you and came to earth for you! ~ Devotionals Daily