FATHER how is it that we come to look upon the babe in the manger at this time of the year? At Christmas, the day set aside so we can remember that YOU, JESUS, stepped down out of eternity, took off YOUR royal robes of YOUR glory, also laying aside YOUR divine powers. Coming as a helpless baby, completely powerless, completely vulnerable. Fully reliant on Mary and Joseph for everything, YOUR complete care and survival. But YOU came to live the same life that we live. FATHER as we come into Christmas day, LORD awaken in us the wonder and awe that the Shepherds had when the angels told them about the saviour being born and how they came to look upon this child to see the SPOTLESS LAMB OF GOD laying in the manger – a feed trough. This world which through YOU LORD JESUS was created. But this world could not find a place for YOU, a simple safe place for YOU to be born. No, the only place that the world could give was a place for animals to be stored, locked up at night. But still YOU came, knowing this. FATHER we sit back and take in the scene that we see on Christmas cards, FATHER allow us the ability to not just look, but to be able to come to a greater understanding of what really happened that day. The pain that Mary went through. The fear that Joseph and Mary had, thinking and realising that this is the SON OF GOD in their arms – that they have to protect and nourish HIM. How they must have looked around them at the setting – a stable, a dirty, smelly stable and here they are… Mary giving birth to THE SON OF GOD. Not even a room. But a stable with animals moving around in it, trying to get to the manger to eat from it. Perhaps they felt worried to be given the great responsibility of being chosen to be the parents of YOUR SON – of THE SON OF GOD – and can’t even start HIM off right. And after all that no family, no friends. Who are the first visitors. Shepherds. Shepherds. And they tell Joseph and Mary what the angels told them – to come and see. Telling them exactly what they would find and where. In a stable. FATHER how we really don’t understand the scene. We look at the beautiful Christmas cards. How clean it is. Can we find room for THE SON OF GOD? Can we find JESUS HIS rightful place in our lives? Can we give HIM HIS place upon the throne in our hearts to rule as the KING OF KINGS? Or like the world at that time only find or give HIM a room off to the side and continue to keep the baby in the manger – powerless and helpless. Will we let HIM reign as our KING – a warrior, fearless in battle? This baby we think about at Christmas – helpless, weak, meek and mild – remember this same JESUS helped create everything!!! HE is the one who flung stars into space and gave them names. Who are we worshipping – the baby or who HE truly was and is from before time started? The KING OF KINGS. The KING of the universe, Creator, Saviour. Yes come see the baby but see the SAVIOUR of the world – the warrior KING, sword in hand fighting fearlessly for all humankind. FATHER this Christmas give us the full vision of what YOU started in that stable the day JESUS became man and YOUR plan to redeem everyone began. Thank YOU for sending JESUS YOUR SON to live as one of us. Thank YOU JESUS for coming, for laying aside everything YOU had with YOUR FATHER to become just like us. Thank YOU for all YOU did in YOUR life on earth and dieing on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven and the sins of all humankind. Amen