- araratchurch
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”
Luke 2:8-9 NKJV
I don’t know what we think needs to happen in order for the miraculous to be made manifest. Indeed, must we be able to “see” it coming?
The idea that the miraculous is somehow always preceded by some eerie “otherworldliness,” or some unmistakable announcement, is not a biblical concept. Indeed, a thorough examination of the miraculous throughout the Bible, illustrates that more often than not, the miraculous abruptly interrupts the monotony, or even the misery, of the everyday lives of everyday people.
The most miraculous event to ever happen to man: the birth of our Lord, happened in a stable. He was placed in a manger, a feeding trough for livestock! As we have discussed, you can’t get more lowly or mundane than that.
And—to continue that theme—the first announcement concerning the Lord’s birth, is given to lowly shepherds; shepherds who may well have been damp, and shivering, in the darkness of night.
We will—over the next couple of days—discuss why the announcement was made to shepherds. For now we consider the unlikelihood of shepherds seeing and hearing an angelic host, proclaiming the good news of the birth of our Lord.
I think it’s safe to say that many people—at one time or another in their lives—become weary of their daily existence. Some, respond to this scenario by surrendering to the inevitability of their “plight.” Still others, respond with quiet despair. As well, some may do ridiculous things to try to bring some excitement or change into their otherwise mundane, unfulfilling, and/or miserable, existence.
Now, I am a person who appreciates the miraculous in the very creation surrounding us. As well, I am humbled by the miraculous in my own life, and am grateful for the things that are “going right,” most of the time. For me, entertaining the option of dissatisfaction with particular circumstances, should only be broached in the context of God‘s ability to change me, change the circumstances, or, most of the time, to change both.
However, I do appreciate that it is easy to begin to think that your current portion defines your destination. And, if we couple with that, the fact that many of the people feeling trapped in a context, are dissatisfied with the same, their desire to break out of that context, is more understandable.
Yet, in the light of our relationship with God in Jesus Christ, and all that He has for us, the “inescapability” of our “miserable plight,” could not be further from the truth. In fact, our routine, what we may reckon as mundane, or even grievous, is that through which the Lord often chooses to show His marvelous deeds, His miraculous doings.
For today, meditate on the fact that the miraculous is all around us, all the time. Indeed, our very existence is miraculous. Even our angst, viewed within the context of what others are dealing with, may be rendered petty. But, with that, it is important to remember that those cherished exclamatory events of life, those marvelous victories long-awaited, may be just moments away.
As you look to the Lord, meditating on His goodness, may He bolster you with a fresh reminder of the glory of His presence, the wonder of His love, and the hope of His faithfulness.
Remember, the greatest Gift is always with us. We have but to pause and breathe in the fragrance of His goodness and mercy toward us, to make us too grateful, too in awe of Him, to ever count our lives as hopeless, helpless, or insignificant.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 16, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7 NKJV
Many sermons, devotions, lessons, etc., have focused on the last part of our opening scripture. The obvious point that is made is that the reason Jesus’ birth happened in a stable (being placed in an animal feeding trough, a manger, would indicate it was a place where animals were kept), was because there was no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn. Generally, in concluding a talk on this topic, the question is presented: “Do you have room in your life for Jesus?”
Now, those answering that question in the affirmative, may point to their church attendance, prayers before meals, wearing a cross, etc., or just the fact that they believe Jesus exists, as proof of their devotion and commitment. “Of course,” they may assert, “I do all kinds of Christian things.”
Those who can’t answer the question of whether they have room for Jesus, in the affirmative, may offer busyness or hectic circumstances, even times the Lord “let them down,” as justification for the Lord having no appreciable place in their lives.
Let’s consider a few points before we entertain that question here.
As we learned earlier, Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem because of a required census. And, we know that this census was imposed on all Roman citizens. Therefore, it follows that the inns were overwhelmed with people needing a place to stay, while fulfilling their obligation to the government.
In other words, the innkeeper didn’t turn Mary and Joseph away because they were rejecting them as people, or even because they didn’t have compassion on them. The fact was, the innkeeper, in attempting to accommodate a high demand, seemingly had no choice but to turn them away.
Face it, life happens. And with our daily grind come myriad demands on our time, attention, and money.
Certainly, the Lord can strengthen us to do what we need to do. He can even help us to do what we must, with expedience. As well, He can teach us to be good managers of all our resources.
But, the fact remains, there are just so many hours in a day, a restricted amount of personal resources, and a limit to the number of things on which we can focus at one time.
In order for Mary and Joseph to have had a room in the inn, someone else would’ve had to have been kicked out.
What I’m saying is, if most of what we have in terms of time, energy, finances, attention, etc., is taken up by other things, and the room we have for the Lord is either nonexistent or less than broom closet worthy, then something’s got to be kicked out.
Obviously, we all have responsibilities we must meet; the Lord never calls for us to shirk our personal responsibilities. Indeed, just the opposite is true.
But the fact is, people will somehow make room for the things that are really important to them. So, when we find ourselves having no time, no space, and nothing to give to the Lord, we have inadvertently given a window into what we hold dearest.
For today meditate on how the use of your time, attention, and personal resources, reflects whether or not you have made room for the Lord in your life.
The Lord truly wants to come into our lives and abide with us. Indeed, His abiding Presence in us by way of the Holy Spirit, is the only way in which we can be transformed into His very image.
Additionally, true fellowship with Him is the only way to access the many great and precious promises the Lord has given to us.
So now, let’s pose this question to ourselves: Does the way we use all of our resources (time, attention, money, mental energy, etc.), indicate that the Lord has room to be born and to grow in our lives? Or, are we offering Him that abysmal broom closet into which we expect Him to manifest His glory?
Maybe it’s time we kicked something to the curb.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 14, 2025
- 2 min read
“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7 NKJV
A Messiah had been promised to God’s weary, sin-laden people for centuries. Now, He makes His appearance in the most unlikely of circumstances. Indeed, The Word made flesh takes His first breath as one of us, in what was most likely a stable.
As we have discussed, the humility of the King of Glory condescending into such lowly circumstances, is beyond our human sensibilities. Imagine, the first scent breathed into His precious nostrils, was not the incense of Heaven; rather, it was the smell of animals.
Along with this unimaginable scene, we are reminded that the promise of God was not delayed, much less prevented, by adverse circumstances.
Indeed, you will find throughout the Bible—as is often true in our own lives—that adversity can actually be the womb for God’s promises.
Look at the classic example of Abraham and Sarah. They had been given a promise, but with the passage of time, it seemed that the fulfillment became less and less likely. However, Abraham continued to hold to the hope of receiving the son of promise.
“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.”
Romans 4:18-19 NLT
In fact, Sarah was assured of the promised son—even in the face of contrary evidence—because of Who had made the promise.
“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”
Hebrews 11:11 NKJV
Yes! The fulfillment of God’s promise is not dependent on perfect circumstances. Nor is it hindered by the absence of the same. For that matter, it is independent of whatever the world, the flesh, and the devil can try to exact against it. Its fulfillment is only dependent on the perfect faithfulness of He Who has promised, and whether we will believe.
There was no room in the inn, so a very tired little couple had to deliver their firstborn son where only animals may have been born before. But no adversity could keep He Who was promised for centuries, He Who was personally promised to Mary and Joseph, from making His entrance into time, right there, that night, in Bethlehem.
For today meditate on the fact that God’s promises are often realized in the midst of adversity.
Remember, the promises of God haven’t come into your adversity to die; on the contrary, perhaps that is where they will be born!
Finally, make no mistake, it doesn’t matter what anybody says, or how it looks in the world, Jesus will come again, just as He said He would. And, He will receive to Himself those of us who are looking for Him, having counted as faithful, He Who promised.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!