The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
O Holy Night, verse 2b
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Have you ever heard a conversation like this:
Person A: “Are you sure you can snowboard down this mountain blindfolded?
Person B: “Are you kidding? I was born for this!”
My guess is you have not heard that exact conversation, but people can be so confident when they are doing something they have enjoyed doing for a long time. On a deeper level, when we see people moving in ways that they are uniquely gifted to, it is a sight to behold.
A few years ago, I was in the hospital after a snowboarding accident. Since I live in a small town, it was not surprising that my nurse was somebody who attended our 20-somethings Bible Study group. I had just come out of major surgery on my leg, and I was in a lot of pain and in and out of consciousness all night. I don’t remember much except the mercy and care I received that night from Jen. Cooling cloths on my forehead, gentle words, and earnest bedside prayers when her evening rounds brought her to my bedside. It was just amazing to be cared for by someone with natural gifts for mercy and compassion.
Hebrews 2:14 says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil”
Jesus is born to experience life with us, so he knows how to free us from our weaknesses. His birth and, ultimately, his death is exactly what we need. The gift of the Christ child is laid before us, and all we need to do is bend a knee.
Scripture References
Action Step
What are some things you feel you were born to do? How does your understanding of this help you understand the mission of Jesus?
Accompanying Playlist
All hymns referenced throughout the series found in one spot. Some versions are traditional. Others…not so much. Enjoy!
Living Simply With God 