June 7

Luke 2:1-7 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Observation

One of the first things that I notice about this passage is how many concrete historical details are included in this passage. This passages references a census, a governor, Caesar, and a number of locations. Very concrete for such a "spiritual" book and moment in time. And, I think that is the point. This was a specific moment in time rather than theory or only some idea of what it means to be spiritual. God is with us, Immanuel. That is what is happening in this passage.

A couple of other points that I became aware of a few years ago.
Bethlehem means house of bread.
A manger is a box or trough that holds food for animals.
Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35 + John 6:51)

Jesus is the food we are to eat and take into our being. He is the new creation we are to become. He enters into our humble lives and mundane situations and pours forth his life into ours and that fact (God is with us) changes everything.

Application

First of all I am so humbled that you, Jesus, would intentionally enter into our life to bring us true life. That you would find the best way to come after us with your love. This "small" fact causes me to be in awe. My first application is to just be still and ponder this act in history. (Ponder this as long as is needed.)

My second application is to discern how to eat of the living bread (Jesus) throughout the day. They say its not what you eat, but what you absorb. I'll be in conversation with you Father about how I can eat, or rather, absorb the bread of life into my soul so that I can do your will your way.

Prayer

Dear Father, Son and Spirit, I am still in awe of your willingness to follow us and come after us so that we can eat of something so we will never hunger again. It is my prayer that all of us who read this journal entry will ponder your great love for us to the point of entering our world. May we all just sit with that today and allow it to penetrate our souls. And, may your love soften hard or crusty hearts. And inspire and strengthen open and soft hearts to do all things with the mind of Christ.

I am so grateful to you for such a powerful picture to see your creativity in delivering the bread that is so valuable and nourishing that it gives us life forever. You deliver your life-giving nourishment (Jesus) to us in the house of bread (Bethlehem) in a carefully chosen receptacle (a manger). I will never forget your creative goodness to find ways to reveal your love for all of us. Thank you for loving me. Because of your great love I am inspired to love others. May I (we) bless those who love us and bless those who curse us just as you did. Amen.

--John Loppnow