birth – Fourth Day Adventures

Do you feel excited about remembering the birth of Jesus?

Seven hundred years ago, the people did not read and did not own bibles. Francis of Assisi wanted the people to understand and be energized by the birth of Jesus.

St. Bonaventure (d. 1274) Life of St. Francis of Assisi

It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff.

Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise.

The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.

Thus started the tradition of Churches acting out the Nativity Scene, and eventually other Christmas plays.
But have we become unexcited over the story of Jesus? Do we think of the babe and become filled with tenderness? Jesus existed before the world was formed yet He stepped down from heaven to become a human baby. He entered the world in as humble a way as I can imagine.

Some times I think the traditions and the rituals which I love so much have caused me to lose the excitement over the reason for the season.

Prayer: Lord help my mind and heart to feel the trill of the story of your birth. Please forgive me for allowing myself to have lost the excitement of your birth. Help me to find ways to tell the story so others are excited by your birth.

Meditation: Jesus existed before he came to earth think about what He left to be born of a young woman, in a stable. A babe to be cared for by its mother. A child that must grow and learn and be subject to his parents. And then remember He did it for me. He did it for each individual person on earth so they would have the opportunity to be reconciled with God.

Action: Come up with at least one creative way to share the story of Jesus birth. Something different.

God’s Deeds laid out in the old Testament provide us with a foundation to know God is mighty, God keeps His promises, and God disciplines and forgives His people. Praise God, His Love Endures Forever. Thank you God for giving us these detailed explanations of what you did in the past because it reassures us that you are the same today.

But moving forward.

Thank you God for the New Testament which shows us just how much you loved us.

Jesus left heaven where the angels worshiped and obeyed his every command. He left heaven for one purpose. He left heaven to seek those who were lost.

Through Jesus the whole world was created. Yet he came to earth in the form of a baby subject to parents and other adults. He followed the rules and studied with the Rabbis. Jesus played and worked and lived in the world he created. Then at the appropriate time, he taught us what it meant to live as one with Him, with the Father.

I am thankful he cared enough to step down out of heaven for my sake; for your sake. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.

Thank you God for coming to show us the way, coming to be our sacrifice, coming to create a bridge where we can be one with You,

Thank you: the baby in the manger, the great teacher, the passover lamb, the risen savior, the Holy Spirit

John 1

King James Version (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

²The same was in the beginning with God.

³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

⁷The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

⁸He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

⁹That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

¹³Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Exercise

Write in your journal what you think heaven is like. Do you think it was a big deal for Jesus to leave heaven to come to earth and to live in human skin? Write a thank you note for what Jesus did by stepping down from heaven to become a sacrifice covering your sins if you have asked Him into your life. Write a detailed note expressing true feelings.

Playlist (what else could it be)

Lord, I Lift Your Name On High Rick Warren The Invitation

Tag: birth

Tired of Christmas Plays Blame Francis

He came from Heaven to Earth

John 1