The Humbleness of Jesus

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."  Luke 2:7 (KJV)

Here we are on Christmas Eve.  The final entry in our Advent series this year brings us to the one with the greatest of humility, Jesus.  Every year, as we read the Christmas story, I am still amazed by the way our Dear Lord entered this world.  Yes, a carpenter was His earthly father and a young virgin His mother.   That was humble enough, wasn't it?  Couldn't Mary have given birth in the comfort of her own home with her mother by her side?  Couldn't Kings have called Mary to their palaces so she could give birth to the King of Kings in comfort?  None of that was God's plan.  He brought Mary and Joseph to the humbleness of the manger.

As we know, it wasn't just Jesus' BIRTH that was of humble state, but all of Jesus' life, there was the greatest of humbleness.  He, the King of Kings, could have had anything he wanted and lived a life of luxury while on earth.  Yet, He lived a simple upbringing, walked more than he rode, ate from what people gave Him, lived among the sinners, preached from a boat, and died on a cross.  Many times, people will ask "If He really was the King of Kings, why didn't He live a life more conducive of royalty?"  He certainly could have, but He lived that life for YOU and for ME.  Yes, for each and every person that was, is and will be.  

Jesus' humble life is a wonderful example for all of us.  He never "longed for more".  We all aspire to live a life that resembles that of our Dear Lord.  He provides us with the "playbook" to move forward in this direction.  How can we be more humble like Jesus?

• Be satisfied, and more yet grateful, for all the things we have been blessed with.  Let us not long for "more" things, but be happy with what we have.
• Eat of what we have, not longing for more.  God will provide everything that we need, even with our daily needs of food and water.
• Preach of Jesus from wherever we are.  Let us not "long for the perfect time", to tell family and friends of the love of Jesus.  Every opportunity is the perfect time.
• Remember that we are all sinners.  Our lives are not perfectly lived and neither are the lives of those around us.  May we remember that our "longing for more" perfect family members and friends is not where our hearts should take us.  Each person is perfect in God's sight.

I love the picture of the cross in the manger.  It so beautifully brings together Jesus' birth and death - helping to remind me that ALL of it was for ME!!  The truest and greatest gift of all!

This journey of humbleness reminds me that I have much to do in my life in this area.  From the letting go of pride like the wise men, to the humbleness of obeying and commitment from Joseph, to the humbleness of servitude of Mary; it all culminates in the life of humbleness from Jesus.  On this Christmas Eve, may we begin to live our lives with humble hearts in honor of the King of Kings - our very own Savior, Jesus.

"Dearest Jesus, may our hearts continue to turn to you as our guide to a life filled with humility.  You  so greatly showed us, through your life and those that you touched, the riches that come from being humble.  As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we remember to be humble, to live as you lived, in humility, in commitment, in servitude and in love.  In your greatness name we pray, Amen."