Corona Devo 3022


As we journey closer to Christmas, we celebrate the Advent (approaching Christ) season, and as we do, be cautioned not to leave the baby in the manger.  

The infancy stage of Jesus was a moment-in-time, and the manger was His God-as-a-man point of entry, but even as we sing "Away in a Manger", let's challenge ourselves to approach Christmas as Christ approaches us: with open arms.  Receiving.  Disarmed of stereotypical standards, and unaccompanied by unattainable expectations.

That is not how Jesus approaches us, and that is not how we should approach Him.

Jesus is living-proof and birthed-proof that He and the Father love us.  They know everything about us and love us completely and unconditionally anyway.  

So much surrounds Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...today, let the love of God surround us.  Remember why Christ came, and how He feels (and knows) about us.  

That baby in the manger grew up, and His heart has always been for us. 

As we journey closer to the manger on Christmas...journey closer to Jesus and His heart for you and me.  He knows everything, and He loves us all the same and without limitation.

~~~

Psalm 139 

(1) You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 

(2) You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

(3) You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 

(4) Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

(5) You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 

(6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 

(7) Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?

(8) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

(9) If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, (10) even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 

(11) If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” (12) even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 

(13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

(14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

(15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 

(16) Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

(17) How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them! (18) Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you...

(23) Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (24) See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  ~Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24

~~~

As we journey closer to Christmas, let's challenge ourselves to approach Jesus as He approaches us: with open arms.  Welcoming, receiving, accepting, entrusting.  

He's got us.  Jesus Christ came to earth as a babe over 2,000 years ago, but He does not remain an infant in that manger, so let's not leave Him there.

The Savior of the world awaits our unity with Him in heart and soul.  He knows everything about us: when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. (3) You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways (Psalm 139:2-3)...and He loves us still.  And He loves us more. 

Yes, we are journeying toward Jesus as we close the gap on Christmas, but we are drawing near to more than the anniversary of a child wrapped in swaddling cloths (And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  ~Luke 2:12).

Our Savior awaits: fully-informed about us, and and fully-loving all of us.  

Consider, remember, and be blessed by His knowledge and love of us today.  It is wonderful.


Blessings, 

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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