Saturday, December 19, 2009
Luke 1:76-79 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
LIGHT FROM HIS MANGER
Martin Luther told people not to try to grasp God with their minds. That is not only impossible for us but the effort leaves us with a cold and even frightening faith. Instead the Reformer urges us to go to the manger and take the Christ-child in our arms. Who can be afraid of a baby? Moreover, here, in the lengths to which the LORD Almighty goes to Redeem us, we see how warm His heart is towards us. Though we deserve cold fury because of our sinful rebellions, He reaches out to us with little fingers waving from a manger-bed.
The manger shines with the glory of the LORD--but it is not the blazing brightness that frightened the shepherds when the herald angel came to them. Instead the manger shines with the glory of God's redeeming love. The Son of God becomes the Son of Mary as well, our Brother, not to lord it over us but to step into the breach on our behalf and make it possible for us to be welcomed back into the circle of God's own family.
And finally it is the love we see at work in this Judean stable that leads us to kneel before the Christ-child, that causes our hearts to receive Him as our LORD and Savior, to hold this Baby with the arms of faith.
Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o'ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 95:6, Martin Luther)
