Most Glorious King, as I contemplate the greatness of Your birth, I am reminded of how indebted I am to You for the sacrifice that You made for the sake of my soul. It is hard to imagine the manger in which You were born as a fitting place for a King to come into the world. In the quiet of the night, a lone bright star showed the way to Your place of birth. It is hard to grasp the thought of Your coming in the form of a tiny, innocent human infant. After all, You are a King deserving of royal robes, a crown and royal surroundings. Instead, You were wrapped in simple, plain swaddling clothes and visited by humble shepherds drawn to Your bed side by angels proclaiming Your birth as King and Savior. I can see Your face aglow with love and esteem for the people You came to save. As Your earthly mother and father gazed upon Your countenance, I’m sure they felt both proud and humble.
A whole atmosphere of holiness surrounded Your coming to earth. Your very presence exuded purity and demanded that all men resolve to flee from the occasion of sin and seek forgiveness for their past missteps. My love for You challenges me to change my ways and emulate Your behaviors. Your status as King dictates the coverings of royalty, but instead You came as the son of a carpenter. As my all-knowing God, You are able to see my flaws, but also my best qualities. Despite my flaws, You reach out to me and call me to be Your own. As I look into Your soft, caring eyes, I see a love that causes me to repent and become filled with a desire to be changed into Your image. In the same way that a small child stretches out it arms to be picked up, so do You, stretch out Your hands for me to take You into my heart. I am confident that in Your infinite goodness You will always love me because You created me.
At times when I doubt that I will ever become the person You want me to be, Your “knowing smile” assures me that all things are possible. I now can believe that I am destined to live out the holiness that You placed within me when I was born. Through Your saving work, I have been set free to live out my calling. You alone can see my potential and that is what You love about me. In the warmth of Your compassion, I feel the distance disappear … forgiveness flooding my soul … and, a yearning to be close to You like never before. In the same way that You stand with me, I want to stand with You. Help me never leave Your side and serve You with every ounce of strength that I possess. Your mercy is the perpetual force that sees my frailty and enables me to stand against evil. In Your sympathy and compassion, You’ve instilled in me a desire to fulfill my calling. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
II Timothy 1:9 (Jesus) has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.