Devotion Luke 2
A number of years ago, my student evangelists and I went into the country side to have an evangelistic mission to start a new church. The host of the mission made the arrangements for us to stay in a two story brick/mud house. The host family stayed and lived upstairs. We had all of our meals upstairs. But when it came time to sleep, we slept downstairs where the rice harvest was stored and where the animals stayed at night for security. We slept on the first floor which was a stable of some sorts. It was common practice in the highlands for visitors to sleep downstairs among the animals.
I’m amazed time and time again about God using the common place to reveal truth. This is clearly demonstrated in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Luke writes as if it was as common as any other child being born “the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (v6-7). Joseph and Mary stayed in a common place for visitors among the animals. She did what every other mother would do after giving birth, wraps her child in cloth to keep him warm and laid him in a manger, a place for the child to sleep and rest. The manger would be the most suitable and common place to put and protect her child.
I’m also amazed that God revealed truth to the shepherds, the ordinary people going about their common duties. They were watching their sheep at night when an Angel spoke to them and said “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (v11-12). God uses common duties to speak to ordinary people to reveal truth.
Many times people believe they need to prepare the situation, the event, or the timing for God to intervene and reveal his will but in the gospels we see time and time again, God intervenes in common place, common space and common duties.
So during this Christmas season look for the Holy Spirit to reveal’s God will in your common place, common space and common duties.
+Todd
A number of years ago, my student evangelists and I went into the country side to have an evangelistic mission to start a new church. The host of the mission made the arrangements for us to stay in a two story brick/mud house. The host family stayed and lived upstairs. We had all of our meals upstairs. But when it came time to sleep, we slept downstairs where the rice harvest was stored and where the animals stayed at night for security. We slept on the first floor which was a stable of some sorts. It was common practice in the highlands for visitors to sleep downstairs among the animals.
I’m amazed time and time again about God using the common place to reveal truth. This is clearly demonstrated in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Luke writes as if it was as common as any other child being born “the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (v6-7). Joseph and Mary stayed in a common place for visitors among the animals. She did what every other mother would do after giving birth, wraps her child in cloth to keep him warm and laid him in a manger, a place for the child to sleep and rest. The manger would be the most suitable and common place to put and protect her child.
I’m also amazed that God revealed truth to the shepherds, the ordinary people going about their common duties. They were watching their sheep at night when an Angel spoke to them and said “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (v11-12). God uses common duties to speak to ordinary people to reveal truth.
Many times people believe they need to prepare the situation, the event, or the timing for God to intervene and reveal his will but in the gospels we see time and time again, God intervenes in common place, common space and common duties.
So during this Christmas season look for the Holy Spirit to reveal’s God will in your common place, common space and common duties.
+Todd
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