The Manger

 

Luke 2:7-16 (KJV)

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 

It is at this time of the year all eyes are turned towards Christmas.

 

Realizing my personal opinion is only the voice of one; I am convinced Christmas has become distorted from its original intention.

 

Christmas is almost unrecognizable; it’s all about Santa Claus and gifts.

 

Today, there are ones who go so far in debt for gifts that it takes months to pay off the debt. To be politically correct, we can’t even say “Merry Christmas” anymore!

 

Let me declare to you that Christmas is all about one thing and one thing only, The birth of a Savior!

 

Allow me to direct your attention to a “Manger.”

 

Manger – a box or trough in a stable or barn from which horses and cattle eat.

There are 783,137 words in the KJV of the Bible. Of the 783,137 words, only 3 of those words are the word “manger.”

 

That box or trough that was found in the stable that night was an item of total insignificance.

 

The manger was so unimportant it could easily be conceived it was built out of any old leftover wood.

 

Some 2×4’s, 2×6’s, 2×2’s; it doesn’t matter, who cares what it looks like. It’s just a manger!

 

If the truth were told, a stable could easily do without a manger altogether!

 

If you designated a certain area just for feeding, you could effortlessly feed cattle and horses right off the stable floor. Animals could care less!

 

Nevertheless, on that night, in that stable, there was an irrelevant and immaterial food trough.

 

But on this night, that manger is going to be called upon for a brand new adventure.

 

That unimportant piece of stable furniture was to be transformed into worldly acclaim because of this Christ child event!

 

When Baby Jesus was placed into that manger it forever transformed the worlds perception of the purpose of what a manger is.

 

I don’t care if it’s August 19th and 100 degrees in the shade, when you hear the word manger, you don’t think about animals… You think about the birth of Jesus Christ, God Almighty!

 

The addition of Jesus into that manger forever changed the mangers definition.

Ask most people what a manger is and I sincerely doubt you’ll get a Webster’s dictionary definition!

 

99% of the time you’re going to hear that is was a place where the newborn baby Jesus was laid.

 

In other words, the addition of the Christ Child completely changed the dynamics of a mangers definition and purpose!

 

Without Christ: one definition and purpose.

 

With Christ: forever changed.

 

Is it not the very same with you and I?

 

Without Christ: I was nothing significant. The world perceived me as one with no power, no direction. I was defined by this world. The only thing I was considered any good for was a recipient of frustration and grief! Not Webster’s dictionary, but Satan had defined me according to his plans for me.

 

But when I got baptized: I shed the insignificant, weak, and powerless definitions. I became significant, strong and powerful.

 

How could such a thing be? It was the addition of Christ into my life. Old things passed away, all things became new!

 

The answer to your transformation is to add Jesus! The way to conquer your weakness to sin is to add Jesus! You don’t have to be dictated to by people’s opinions and mentalities, add Jesus! You don’t ever again have to be bound by Satan’s directives or decrees, just add Jesus!

 

You simply need to have Jesus added to your life and have your existence redefined.

 

Tonight, right here, right now, your life can be renovated, reconstructed, and rebuilt! Forever transformed!

 

Why can’t it be that when people come in contact with you that they say? I remember when he led a different life. He was constantly troubled.

Bound by the powers of this world…

But one day Jesus was added… He’s never been the same since.

 

The addition of Jesus will redefine you if you allow it to!