“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
This year, in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado, in an area called Old Town Square, there was a nativity scene, until the day that baby Jesus was stolen out of his manger. The police department asked for the public’s help to find the missing statue.
Four days later, the statue was anonymously dropped off at the local fire station with a note of apology. The surveillance video showed a teenage boy taking the baby out of the manger. In the spirit of mercy and forgiveness, the owners of the property, chose not to press charges. The boy’s remorse moved him to do the right thing, and everything ended well.
In thinking about that empty manger, I began to wonder how many people would really care if Jesus was permanently removed, not only from a manger scene, but from the whole Christmas holiday.
What if Christmas was only about decorations, trees, lights, presents, food and family celebrations, but nothing at all about Jesus? There would be no church services, no Christmas carols, no Christmas story, no Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men or baby in a manger.
Celebrating Jesus at Christmas time will always be more meaningful to those who celebrate Him all year round. He wants to dwell in the manger of our hearts throughout the year, and when He does, it’s only natural to want to share His peace and joy with others.
Without Christ, the world would be a very dark place. Jesus came to show us what His Father is really like, instead of the false perceptions people often have about Him. God loves us and longs to show His grace and mercy to all people, as was written by the prophet, Isaiah, long before the birth of Christ.
(Isaiah 30:18)
When we become overwhelmed with the troubles and sorrows of this world, it is “Christ in us”, who restores our hope. God wants everyone to know that He loves us and is with us in whatever we go through.
When Jesus lives in the manger of our hearts, He is continually renewing our minds, restoring our hope, and helping us to see things through His perspective. All that happens in our lives, continues a transformative process of renewal that begins in the manger of our hearts. Scripture tells us that anyone who is in Christ, becomes a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The manger is a rectangular box, used to put food in, for animals to eat out of. It’s no coincidence that a feeding place became a resting place for baby Jesus, since He later called Himself the bread of heaven, and the one who gives us rest. The baby in the manger grew up to become the source of spiritual nourishment and true rest for the world.
Jesus still resides in the manger of our hearts, nourishing our faith and giving us peace, through all the ups and downs of this life. He still brings joy to all people just as the angel predicted, and no one can steal Him from the manger of our hearts. He is with us to stay.
I recently heard a true story about an anonymous secret Santa. He is a retired, wealthy man, who, this year, decided to visit the victims of hurricane Helene in North Carolina. He approached people who had lost their homes, and were living in motels, and gave each person a couple hundred dollars in cash. He met others in parking lots or grocery stores and did the same thing for them. He offers cash and a hug, hoping to give people a bit of hope, after losing so much.
God has called us to be children of light. His son will always reside in the manger of our hearts, renewing our minds, day by day as we find ways to bring hope to others, and dispel some of the darkness in this world.
Lord, thank you for living in the manger within us, and as you transform and renew us, may we shine your light to others and spread the peace, love and joy that you have given us. Amen