Devotionals for the Heart: A Savior

A Savior is Born
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” –Luke 2:11-12 (KJV)

Christmas is such a wonderful and magical season.

It’s the time of year when people tend to be generous and kind toward each other, even if in the other eleven months of the year they are not. Children are in awe anticipating Santa’s arrival, decorations are going up, trees are lit, and the air is filled with Christmas music. Retail merchants are vying for the Christmas club dollars and there is a mad dash to accomplish what one deems important for their family’s Christmas. Everything is bright and glittery. This is what Christmas has become in the 21st century. But two thousand years ago, the first Christmas was quite different.

I always think of Mary (the mother of Jesus) and I can’t imagine being nine months pregnant, riding a donkey ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. That trip would have taken four to seven days over some rough terrain. We know Mary’s origin was Nazareth and Joseph was from Bethlehem. They both were in Nazareth when Caesar Augustus degreed that the whole world should be taxed and Joseph needed to return to his city of origin.

Think how Mary must have felt, tired, uncomfortable in early labor and needing a place to bring her child into the world. One could assume Joseph was poor and they did not have the money to procure a room in a private home, which was made available for the well-to-do. Mary and Joseph might have been turned away from several places before they came to the inn.

“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.”
– Luke 2:7 (KJV)

They were offered a stable, an out building similar to a barn and many commentaries dispute whether it was a stable or in a house. Some believe they stated in a family members home. This is not a doctrinal point as to whether he was born in a stable or in a house. What does matter is that He was born.

Why the chosen date of December 25 as the birthdate of Jesus Christ? That is another debate among scholars. Many say it couldn’t have been in winter because the shepherds were outside with their flocks, so some have assumed Jesus was born in the spring. Others say winter because there is a special breed of sheep that can tolerate the colder weather. Winter or spring, He came. God sent His only begotten son as the greatest gift of all (John 3:16)! Jesus came to redeem sinful mankind. The blood of cattle and goats could no longer be atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:12).

So, when we gather on Christmas Day with our families, break bread together and enjoy the fellowship of the season, let us reflect upon Jesus, our Savior, who left the splendor of a Heavenly Kingdom to come down to our level and sacrifice Himself for sinful mankind.

There was a song many years ago that had a line that said, “He would have come, even if you’d been the only one.” That is a humbling thought, Jesus would have come just for YOU. He loves you that much.

Let us thank our Heavenly Father for the wonderful gift of Jesus, and share with those around you the love of God. Let’s not be too busy to be kind to one another and say, “Merry Christmas.”

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry. 

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni who is a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.