December 18, 2022: Luke 2:12 - Born in Humility
“And this will be the sign to you: ‘You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’” - Luke 2:12
This is what the angel told the lowly shepherds to look for as he proclaimed the arrival of Messiah, Savior, Christ the Lord. Did Jesus arrive in birth in a grand way, surrounded by family members held in high esteem by all, in a warm cradle, with all that He could ever need?
No, Jesus arrived in such a way that would distinguish His birth from all others. Born of a virgin, in a place that wasn’t His parents’ home, and in a feeding trough for animals, for the inn was full. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths, not fine garments of royalty.
From His humble birth to His last breath on the cross, Jesus lived a life of humility. His life is the complete opposite of the Devil, which is all about himself. That is how he appeals to so many, for he appeals to self and self-aggrandizing. How is our world so like him today?
Self, self, self. The “me” and the “selfie” generation. “Listen to your heart and do whatever you want as long as it makes you happy.” The Bible tells us the complete opposite. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Look at our world today and see what living for self instead of living for Jesus has gotten us. A world of skyrocketing crime, wholesale slaughter of the unborn, perversion beyond compare, addiction, depression, suicide, emptiness. This is what the Devil wants.
Jesus left His heavenly home to come to a place that wasn’t His home, to be born in a feeding trough for animals, and to live a life of humility. His birth wasn’t in a palace or a castle, surrounded by people held in high esteem, in a warm cradle where His every need was met.
When He grew up and started His ministry of telling people the good news of His free gift of salvation of sins, through belief in Him as Messiah, He walked, talked, ate, and slept like us. He had no place to call His home.
Jesus wore no priestly garments adorned in such a manner to distinguish Himself from the “common people” as so many religious leaders did then and to this day.
From His first breath to His last, Jesus lived a life of humility. Humility is something that is rejected in our society today. Pride is the opposite of humility and pride I believe is the greatest stumbling block that keeps people from turning to Jesus.
How I pray that if you are not saved by believing in Jesus as your Savior, that you would turn away from the lies of the Devil that only lead to destruction and turn to Jesus and be saved from all your sins. Don’t let pride be that great chasm that separates you from Him forever. ✝️