A Way in a Manger
While gearing up for my morning walk, I asked the Lord for a topic for Christmas. As I walked around the lake, I started doing what I normally do…talk to the Lord or sing. Since it’s the Christmas season, I started singing Christmas carols.
Away in a manger
no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
looked down where He lay
the little Lord Jesus
asleep on the hay
The next song rolled right from this one.
You made a way
when our backs were against the wall
and it looked like it was over
You made a way
and we’re standing here
only because You made a way.
You made a way
Don’t know how but you did it
I stopped right there! The Holy Spirit revealed to me how these two songs connected.
Over 2000 years ago, our backs were against the wall. Because of our sins, mankind stood guilty. Pinned against the wall of death… eternal separation from God the Father… destined for hell …helpless …hopeless… It looked like it was over.
But God made a way and we do know how He did it. He made a way—in a manger. The virgin Mary gave birth to His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ who lived a sinless life and bore our sins on the cross. He died and arose three days later. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection brought redemption and we’re standing here today, only because He made a way. What a gift to receive or give to someone this year!
Christmas represents the evidence of how much God really cares and loves us. God purposely revealed the way so that all mankind would know that there is only one way back to Him. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.” God’s gift of love to the world came in a baby—His gift of eternal life in a Savior.
But you must accept God’s gift… accept His Son as Lord and Savior of your life. If you do, you will stand in a right relationship with God today and forever, only because He made a way… and it started in a manger.
God still comes through for us today. We find ourselves in situations due to our sins or the sins of others. We face life situations such as illness, failures, losses, broken relationships and other trials where it looks like no way out. We try every method we know to escape, but find our backs pinned against the wall… helpless…hopeless… fearing the worse.
But then God steps in and makes a way. Most of the time, we don’t know how He did it, we just know He did. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways, My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’” So many times, the Lord comes through for us and we can only wonder how. But His way out comes in such a manner that we know only God did it.
I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful that in my sinful state, separated from God, He made a way and revealed the way for my eternal salvation. I accepted His gift a long time ago, and I am standing here today, only because He made a way… a way in a manger. So, when I sing the familiar carol, Away in a Manger, I sing now with a greater understanding of the first line to that hymn. Why? Simply …
