This Will Be A Sign To You

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Have you noticed the proliferation of electronic road signs around the state. The signs are a very nice addition for the safety of travelers on our interstate highways. They can give advance warning of bad road conditions, road closures, delays in travel, etc. They work great. The only limitation on the effectiveness of the signage is the end user. You actually have to pay attention and read the information the sign is providing.

If we look at Luke 2:12 in isolation, rather than in context, it would give us the impression that this is a birth announcement of an event taking place in very humble surroundings. If you are looking for clues like while geocaching (Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a GPS or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches") it might be how someone would describe the location of a clue. But if we look at this verse in context with the surrounding verses we know that in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Savior is born, and he is Christ the Lord. The sign by which they are to know the validity of what is being told to them is “a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger.” That magnitude of this is almost incomprehensible. But it raises a big point. The prevailing opinion at that time was the “Christ” would be royal in nature. And here is evidence to the contrary. Humble rather than royal. This is something for us to take to heart. Not all that is of God is magnificent in nature or appearance. Some of the most important things are very simple and humble in nature. So if you hold the opinion that the word of God is preached best from ornate cathedral-like buildings, hang on. The reality check is in the mail. God will use any place or any of us for His purpose. His son lived a simple life with nothing we would call the trappings of wealth. There is an important point here for us to grasp. The Son of God was born into humble surroundings, lived a humble life, preached humility, and suffered the humiliation of the death on the cross before his resurrection. This all transpired so that all men could have forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with the Father, and eternal life. A king in flowing robes did not provide this. Rather a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger did this. Let us try to remember that from humble beginnings great things come. From our own humble efforts in ministry, great things can be accomplished. To God be the glory in all that we do.

PRAYER: Father, Abba, we struggle at times with the simple things in life. We look for the great as the only means of achieving great things. Help us dear Lord to see with Your eyes. Help us to get past the bounds of earthly perception and view the truth. Guide us such that in our infirmity we can be led to that which You would have us see and do. This we ask in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen