Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine…For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.”
Isaiah 9: 2 (NLT)

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And… of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1: 30-33 (ESV)

“So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 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: 6-7 (NKJV)

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1: 4-5 (ESV)

But why would we be surprised.

Were we there, we probably would not have been surprised. 

Looking around at the world at the time when Mary and Joseph were looking for a place for Mary to give birth to her first child, a filthy stable was all that was offered.

And just about right compared with the world around them at that time. 

Forget that the baby, to be named Jesus, was the Son of the Most High. God.

A filthy stable was all that a filthy world felt the Holy Family and Baby deserved.

A filthy world immersed in deep darkness.  Where the people had turned from and forgotten God. A darkness marked by idols and idolatry, selfishness, drunkenness, greed, idleness, seeking power, worldly values, and corruption. 

People had forsaken God, and had sought refuge, relief, and identity in the things of the world.

And then a baby was born. 

But who would imagine the baby would be a King.

A King, and the Light of the world. 

The Light of the Christ Child. 

And here we are again. Heading toward the celebration once again of that birth. Looking around, we might argue that our world today is not unlike that world back then.

A world of people then and now seeking after worldly things. Living out worldly values. Forsaking God as a refuge and pathway for life.

Maybe even characterized today as a filthy world similar to that one over two thousand years ago. The one which was the Baby’s first glimpse of the world He entered way back then. 

But today as we prepare to celebrate that moment, think about this—Who would imagine a King? 

And what do we do with the King, Christ, the Light of the world?

How do we treat Him? Do we ignore Him. Scream at Him. Turn from Him.

Are we lukewarm in our relationship with Him, and just go through the motions.

Maybe say a few prayers, spend some quiet time moments with Him, light a few candles, go to church when expected, and other worthy things.

The King is still here. A King Who has always been here. Patiently waiting for us to turn again fully surrendered to Him. To turn all of ourself to Him.

And to allow His Light to penetrate the darkness of every corner of our lives, and every corner of the world around us. 

To clean up what needs to be cleaned up. To change what needs to be changed.

Remembering the filthy stable and filthy world back then, and leaving the stuff of this world today as only a memory, and moving forward fully surrendered to the life God created us to live with Him. 

A world where the Light of the King shines through the darkness of our lives, and the world everywhere around us.

Where we follow our God whom we can easily imagine is our God Who would give us such wonderful gifts—such as a King, His Son, for you and for me. 

For now, and forever.  

For you and for me.

In His Name–Scott

Be blessed as you listen to Whitney Houston share “Who Would Imagine a King.” Click the link below—