The Advent Calendar - Pt. 14

 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7 ESV).  

 

Today we are looking at another one of those little references that so often go unnoticed. In the last verse of our reading there is the mention of an “inn” (v. 7). Please don’t think of a Marriot or Hyatt Regency. It was probably no more than a well to do individual who had extra rooms in his home. Since the practice of hospitality was highly praised, he made the extra rooms available to those who had traveled to register for the Roman census. By the time Joseph and Mary arrived it was full, though the master of the house offered his stable for them to get out of the cold night. Having done his duty he retired for the night and missed the birth of the Messiah!

 

There are so many people, no matter where they are or what their circumstances are, that will miss Christmas. That seems to be a crazy comment given the incredible amount of media that is devoted to the holiday. Even with the pandemic, there is nearly a blanket of Christmas spread throughout our land. We cannot deny knowledge of a Christmas celebration. I'm not just sure everyone really knows what it's really about. At least pragmatically it seems as though we are blind or deaf to the reality of Christmas. In spite of the media, the public relations, the advertising, or all of those things that attract our attention it seems to me that many people will miss Christmas.

 

The reason for this tragedy is the fact that there is so much that's cluttered up Christmas. Now for us who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas is a time to focus on His birth, the great reality of the incarnation that God became a man. That tremendous incomprehensible miracle of divine energy that brought God into human history is easily seen. We know that. But even in our own lives because of the complexity of what is happening around us Christmas can be lost to us in a very practical way. I think, for example, that Satan has cluttered almost every good Christian concept with so much needless paraphernalia that it gets lost.

 

We can change that in our lives and our homes. Be intentional to read the Scripture to your children about Christmas. Engage in worship with the use of these devotionals or others that abound. Share your story with others. Don’t miss the real Christmas!