THURSDAY, JANUARY 11
Luke 2:6-7
1 Corinthians 1:27

“…God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound
the things which are mighty.”

A LOWLY BIRTH

The Bible declares Joseph and Mary just. They were godly, believing the words of God spoken through the angel Gabriel. They were not sinless but they had faith in the promised Messiah. Their willingness to take care of the Son of God demonstrated their faith. However, they did not belong to a wealthy family. This is seen in the wrapping they had for the baby. “Swaddling” indicates that these clothes were pieces of old castoff clothing, cut up into strips, and wrapped around the baby. This surely was not the kind of clothing for a baby of rich parents. The Messiah was born poor as Joseph and Mary were poor.

The appointed place was Bethlehem. God had a place for His beloved Son. He was in charge and in His providence He made all things possible. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Mic 5:2). But Bethlehem was little and a poor village. The Lord is not interested in things big, great, extravagant and proud. He chooses the little, weak, simple and humble. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Cor 1:27).

An animal shed was the place for the birth of God’s Son. The great humility of our Lord Jesus Christ was displayed as He lay on a hard and cold stone used only for animal foodstuff. There were inns in that little town, but there was no room for a poor couple. The God who created the heaven and the earth preferred to be born with the lowly creatures than to be with the rich. Today’s followers of the Lord Jesus Christ forget or are ignorant of who He is, they become “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim 3:4).

THOUGHT: Am I following my Lord’s lowly way or the world’s highway?
PRAYER: Lord of lowliness, may I be humble and meek that I might do Thy holy, precious will. Rebuke me of my pride and haughtiness, for Thou art great and I am nothing.