Luke 2 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Luke 2:6,7

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Do we trust our Father’s timing? Oftentimes our flawed and near-sighted timetable doesn’t line up with His perfect and Eternal one. I’m sure Mary and Joseph had a plan; this is where the birth is gonna happen, this is how it’s gonna go, and this is who is gonna be there. But God in His infinite wisdom had another plan, a flawless one.

God coming to be born in a manger is beautiful, powerful, and extremely humble. Imagine the One who is above everything, before everything, and more than everything coming to be born in the lowliest of states and into the filth of a manger. He did this to identify with those He came to save, just as we are born into the filth of sin, so Christ was born into the filth of the manger.

He could have chosen anywhere to be born – a house, the Temple, a palace. Every place was at His disposal, and yet He chose a manger out on the road and far from home. I see Him relating to us and saying it’s not always going to be comfortable, easy, or make sense, but God is always in control. Trust in the One who created you to care for you! How great a blessing it is to know our King came in such a way to identify with us and then to give everything for us! Thank You, Jesus!

John 3:14,15- “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”

John 12:32,33- “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Myself.” He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die.

God bless! I love you all, but His love humbly yet powerfully set us free! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Luke 2:10-12

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Let us rejoice today in the God of our salvation! The King who stepped down from Heaven to be born in a manger. To live a life of obscurity and rejection that culminated in Him being hung on a cross for you and me. Our God who was laid in the grave but didn’t stay there, our God who broke the power of sin and death, our God who still moves today!

The same excitement and joy that filled the air that night in a field outside of Bethlehem need to fill our hearts and lives today! He is still worthy of such excitement and joy. We who have walked with Christ for a while must guard against complacency, dullness, and routine. We must ever be seeking Him and remember all that He is, or we may be in danger of just going through the motions.

When I remember how desperately lost and alone I was, it helps me to rejoice in all that He is. Thinking about Who He is and all that He gave helps me to worship Him from the heart and not just the lips. Remembering that my fate was sealed until God unsealed that tomb helps me to be grateful for all that He is and all that I have in Him.

We must continually be fighting to focus upon Him and not the things of this world. It is tough; no one said it would be easy, but it’s something we must do. It can be hard for us in this fast-paced, hurry-up world to stop and be still before our God, focusing all of our attention on Him. But isn’t He worthy of all that we are because of all that He is? So today, let’s carve out some time to rejoice in Him, for the angel's words still ring true: “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” That alone should get us pumped up and filled with joyful praise! Thank You, Jesus, and please help us to remember correctly who you are and all that you gave!

Psalm 150:6- Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Hebrews 12:1,2- Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God bless! I love you all, but His love is vital and worthy of our praise! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit! 

  

Luke 2:12

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 

Last night and today, as I was praying, the Lord laid something like this on me: The greatest gift ever given wasn’t under a tree, then unwrapped, but rather wrapped and laid in a manger. The cross is where our debt to sin was paid, but it started in a manger. It started not in luxury or wealth but in obscurity and dirt. Jesus went from wrapped in swaddling cloths to the world wrapping Him in accusations, hate, taunts, and finally a crown of thorns.

 

But take heart because God was about to unwrap the greatest Gift ever given, our redemption, our reconciliation, and our salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in that empty tomb!!!

 

John 20:6-7 - Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

 

We don’t deserve it, and we could never earn it, but that’s why it’s called a Gift. God wanted us to know that it’s not about what we can do but what He already did through His Son!!!! Unwrap your Gift of Salvation today, and I promise you, you won’t ever want to exchange it!!!! The greatest gift ever given wasn’t laid under a tree but rather nailed to one for you and me! The question isn’t did it happen, but will you accept Him?

 

Thank You, Jesus. Help us to be more like You and let Your love shine through us!!!!

 

I love you all, God bless, and glory to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!!!!

 

 

Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:51- Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Mary treasured her God and stored up the things of Him in her heart; can we say the same thing? Mary had a choice to fill her heart with the things of this world or with the One who created it. It would have been very easy for her to focus and be filled with worry, shame, guilt, fear, and doubt, but instead, she filled her heart with the beautiful and powerful Treasure that is Jesus Christ, and by doing that, she was filled with love, hope, peace, joy and strength.

And how can we tell that she was filled with these things? I believe the answer to that question isn't found at the beginning of Christ's earthly life but at the end of it. Mary went to the cross with her Son, and I believe it was only by the grace of God and the things she stored up in her heart that she was able to stand and not be destroyed by watching her Son suffer and die. She had to draw off the Christ in her to watch Christ die in front of her. She had to remember all of His promises, His love, His victories, and all the times spent with Him in order to face the hardest time in front of her and not crumble under the heartbreak of it.

We too must fill up with Him today if we are going to stand tomorrow. Like Mary, we must store up and draw from Him on the mountaintop if we are going to stand on Him in the valley! Thank you, Jesus!

Psalm 103:2-5- Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's!

God bless! I love you all, but His love won't be denied! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!