How I would have liked to be there in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
I can imagine falling on the ground in worship. The King of kings had
left his infinite Kingdom to be with us. TO BE WITH US! We are that
important to Him! I am that significant to Him! Wow!
Though there
was great rejoicing in Heaven the night Jesus was born, it was more than
likely bitter-sweet, because all of the heavenly host was aware of why
He came and what would transpire during His time on Earth. They were
aware that He not only came to spend personal time with us, which is
God's favourite pastime, but also to pay our debt in full, a debt we
could not pay ourselves. Thanks to Him we can be guaranteed that "there
is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1
NIV)!
Wow! How I would have loved to be there, gazing upon the
baby's beauty!
Though these events transpired over 2000 years
ago, I was able to find a living witness of the child's birth. Although
he isn't exactly located in Bethlehem, he was alive at the time, and the
rumors of the One who came from heaven spread rapidly all over the
world. God had come to us! Wow!
The witness I found was on the
Northern island of New Zealand. His name is Tane Mahuta, and he is
considered the Lord of the forest. He is the largest living kauri tree
in New Zealand, and he is considered to be more than 2000 years old. His
total height is 51.5 meters, and his trunk girth is 13.8 meters.
I couldn't help but refer to these trees as "he and she", as I am
mesmerized by their beauty, and as I stood on the Northern island of New
Zealand admiring him, his presence brought me back to the time the
Christ was born. I imagined how tiny Tane Mahuta must have been, barely
a sapling, and his presence made me aware of God's vision for each one
of us. God doesn't want us to remain tiny saplings! He wants us to grow
to become what He has destined us to be! Just like Tane Mahuta!
There are no excuses for why we can't reach up to the heavens! Nothing
can stop our growth, as long as we keep our focus on the One who created
us and saved us.
It is true that these mighty kauri trees have
their weak spots. Their roots are shallow and delicate, and anyone
stepping on them could eventually kill the tree. This is why protective
platforms and pathways have been built through the Kauri forest, to
protect them from extinction.
In just the same way, we also are
filled with weaknesses. This is why Jesus came to this earth, so that we
could grow without having to fear of what lies ahead. He is the One who
promised us "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
(Matt 28:20 NIV)
Thank You Jesus, for having come for me. You
changed my life so completely that now I am filled with inner peace and
joy, no matter what my circumstances. I stand in awe of what You have
done for me, and what You continue to do on a daily basis. Thank You for
breaking me free from my prison, for opening the doors wide to real
living, a life entwined with Your love. I love You Lord!
What is
your biggest wish?
Rob Chaffart
Alive at Jesus' Birth. Devotions from the Psalms (27:4)
Today's Bible Verse:
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the
beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." (Ps 27:4)
Alive at Jesus' Birth. Devotions from the Psalms (27:4)
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