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God With Us!
Devotional for Friday, December 17, 2004 by Brenda Wood
Luke 2:6-7 - While they were there, 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. (NRSV)My idea of great travel involves no tent, no creepy-crawly scary (critters!), no campfires, and a really nice hotel with privacy, carpet, and a firm, yet cushioning, mattress. Not for me the grim, cold, barren sleep-outs.
Mary didn't have such choice! Bethlehem was what it was. Any inn of the day was crowded, smelly, and full of the worst creepy-crawly scary (critters and humans!). We often blame an innkeeper (who is never mentioned!) for telling the family that there was no room in the inn and for sending the Son of God to a stable. Actually the word "room" doesn't mean a 12 x 12 with a good bed. Here it is the Greek word "topos" meaning "an appropriate place".
In Jeremiah 14:8, the prophet cried out that God had forgotten His people, and that when He dropped in, it was only for the night. No longer! No more one night stands in an inn: born in the "appropriate place", Emmanuel -- God with us -- is here to stay!
Will we choose to fellowship with Him?
Hebrews 13:5b - For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake you nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (AMP)
Prayer: O God, what else can we say but "Yes!" In Jesus' name. Amen.
Brenda Wood <brenda.w@nextcom.ca>
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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Today's Music:
O Little Town Of Bethlehem.