Village Schools of the Bible

She had no thought but this:
if any other maiden had got such good things from God, she would be just as glad and would not grudge them to her; indeed, she regarded herself alone as unworthy of such honor and all others as worthy of it. She would have been as well content had God withdrawn these blessings from her and bestowed them upon another before her very eyes. So little did she` lay claim to anything, but left all of God's gifts freely in His hands, being herself no more than a cheerful guest chamber and willing hostess to so great a Guest. Therefore she also kept all these things forever. That is to magnify God alone, to count only Him great and lay claim to nothing. We see here how strong an incentive she had to fall into sin, so that it is no less a miracle that she refrained from pride and arrogance than that she received the gifts she did. Tell me, was not hers a wondrous soul? She find herself the Mother of God, exalted above all mortals, and still remains so simple and so calm that she does not think of any poor serving maid as beneath her. Oh, we poor mortals! If we come into a little wealth or might or honor, or even if we are a little prettier than other men, we cannot abide being made equal to anyone beneath us, but are puffed up beyond all measure. What should we do if we possessed such great and lofty blessings?... But Mary's heart remains the same at all times; she lets God have his Will with her and draws from it all only a good comfort, joy, and trust in God. Thus we too should do; that would be to sing a right Magnificat.
- Martin Luther from Luther's Works

No room for Jesus? No room for the King of kings? No, but room for others and for other things. There was no room for Jesus in the world that He had made - imagine!

Things have not really changed since that Bethlehem night over two thousand years ago. God is still on the fringes of most of our lives. We fit Him in when it is convenient for us, but we become irritated when He makes demands on us. If God would only stay in His little box and come out when we pull the string!

Our lives are so full. There is so much to be done. But in all our busy activities are we in danger of excluding from our hearts and lives the One who made us?

"Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for you!"
-Billy Graham from Hope for Each Day

The Word disguised Himself by appearing in a body, that He might, as Man, transfer men to Himself, and center their senses on Himself.
-Athanasius from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers

Christmas Day Prayer
O God, my Father,
looking up at the shining stars
of the cold December sky
I remember the patient mother
and the rock-hewn manger
in lowly Bethlehem where lay cradled
Thy Love for the world
In the shadows of the silent stall
I stand beside the Christ.
Speak to my soul as I wait, I pray Thee.
Let the trusting, loving spirit of the Child
steal into my life until it calms
my fears and soothes my pain.
In willing surrender and passionate longing
let me take the Christ child to my heart,
that henceforth I may live as He lived,
love as He loved, and, following His footsteps,
bring help to the needy, courage to the weak,
comfort to the sorrowing, and hope to the lost.
Amen.
-Anonymous

A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.

You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can't go in standing up.

The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.

So-
while the theologians were sleeping
and the elite were dreaming
and the successful were snoring,
the meek were kneeling.

They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see. They were kneeling in front of Jesus.
- Max Lucado from The Applause of Heaven

What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of Kings, salvation brings:
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary

(Note: all of the above thoughts were taken from the book, The Incarnation: An Anthology, published in 2002 by Thomas Nelson Publishers)

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