Why We Need a Nativity Set

By: Lauren Thomas 

Christmas décor trends come and go. This year, it’s all about “Ralph Lauren Christmas.” I’m also seeing a lot of paper chains and a focus on DIY décor. But ironically, both of these trends have to do with timeless Christmas decorating. And what is more timeless than a beloved nativity set? 

As a child, one of my favorite parts of decorating for Christmas was getting to set up and arrange our Precious Moments nativity set. I remember delicately handling the rough, unglazed porcelain. I remember imagining the scene and story. I remember the reverence I had for the pieces, specifically, the tiny manger holding the baby Jesus.

A couple years ago, I was on the hunt for a nativity set for my family. Somehow, between thrifting one and being gifted two, I ended up with three sets! None of these sets were what I would have selected for myself at a store. They aren’t aesthetic. They aren’t fancy. But they fulfill an important function.

 

And what is that function?

 

Nativity sets are great teaching aids! When decorating this year, my 7-year-old daughter asked if she could arrange the pieces. We talked about each piece and how they are representative of the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth. If you have young children at home, you need an inexpensive set that they are allowed to touch. My 2-year-old likes to pick up the manger. I teach him the importance of being gentle – not with an heirloom figurine – but with the Christ-child in a manger. It’s a step toward teaching him reverence for the Lord.

 

But a nativity set isn’t just for teaching my children. My nativity set teaches my heart. It teaches my heart to remember. When I look at our Christmas tree – warm white lights, a woodland theme with gold accents – I think of the holiday. But when I see our nativity, I remember Christmas. I slow down and contemplate what each piece symbolizes. And what that means for me.

 

This year I am struck by the variety of people to whom God chose to reveal His son’s birth: Mary – a young and humble girl; shepherds – social outcasts, smelly, dirty, rough; wisemen – Gentiles that God nevertheless included. And I am reminded that the favor God showed toward these unlikely individuals, he also shows to me: a Savior has been born for me.

 

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12 ESV

 

So, when I see a figurine of a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, it is a sign that good news of great joy is for me too. And this reminding, this teaching for the heart, is why we need a nativity set.

 

Reflection:

Do you have any special memories attached to a nativity set?

If you have a nativity set at home – and I hope you do! – go sit near it and contemplate Christ’s birth. Put yourself in the sandals of each piece, there to witness the miracle. What might each person have been thinking, feeling?

Why Did He Come?

By: Jenifer Metzger

For God loved the world in this way:

He gave His one and only Son, so

that everyone who believes in Him

will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 CSB

Why did Jesus come to this world?

God loves you and I so much that He sent His own Son to this earth to be born in human form just to die for us. Jesus came to this earth with one purpose: to die so that we may live. Are you ready to accept His gift? The gift of life?

If a friend or loved one came to your house on Christmas morning with a gift wrapped beautifully and a label with your name. Would you open it or would you set it on the shelf never ripping the paper fully accept the gift? Jesus came as a beautifully wrapped gift. When we don't give our life to Him, it is like setting the gift on the self, never opening it.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you come to understand His deep love for you. That you accept Him and fall deeply in love with Him. He loves you. Oh, He loves you so much friend!

Have a very blessed and beautiful Christmas. Remember, Jesus is the true reason for this season.

Discussion:
If you have questions or would like prayer to accept Jesus, feel free to leave a comment or email us at jenifer@w2wministries.org.

Names of God Series: Lead Along by the Light of the World

 By: Rebekah Hargraves 

Photo Courtesy of: Zac Durant

"Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

~John 8:12

In our series on the names of God, we come next to a name He attributes to Himself - The Light of the World - which points to His being the Source of Truth and Life, reminding us that He leads us out of darkness.

C.S. Lewis once famously declared, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen - not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” 

This brings to my mind the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path."

Jesus is the Light of the World, which has a few implications for us. 

For one thing, it means that He is able to free us and rescue us from the darkness of sin, hell, and the enemy. It also means that He is able to light our path, making it clear for us which way we are to go an which steps we are to take in life. We never have to lean on our own understanding (and, truly, shouldn't do that, anyway!). We never have to look to ourselves for answers. We never have to wallow around in the darkness of confusion trying to find a way out of our troubles. No, because Jesus is the Light of the Word, He is and can be our Light every moment of every day. After all, Jesus Himself declared in John 8:12, "“I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Which brings us to something else Jesus once said, this time about us as His followers in Matthew 5:14-16: 

"You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

As incredible as it is that Jesus is the Light of the World for us, it is even more astonishing that He uses that very same phrase to describe us ourselves! We, too, made in His image, redeemed by His blood, and commissioned by Him to go out into all the world as His hands and feet, are to be the light of the world to the lost. We are to live in such a way that those who see us would give glory to our Father in heaven. 

So not only is Light of the World one of our God's names, it is one of ours, as well! 

Reflection Questions:

1) What stands out to you about the fact that Jesus declares Himself to be the Light of the World?

2) What stands out to you about the fact that He declares you to be the light of the world, as well?

3) Are you currently living as the light of the world? If not, why not? What needs to change?

Lessons From the Wise Men

 By: Joanne Viola

 

It is hard to believe we are already in the last few days of Advent. The waiting is almost over.

Reading Advent devotionals and Scriptures, I moved into the Gospel of Matthew yesterday. It was there the wise men grabbed my attention. These wise men:

• They followed the star to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9)
• Their hearts were filled with joy (verse 10)
• They bowed down to worship at the sight of this new family (verse 11a)
• They gave their gifts and their gifts were extravagant (verse 11b)

Jesus was worshiped by these wise men, who Scripture tells us “came from the east” (Matthew 2:1). It is likely they were Gentiles. They came and they worshiped.

One commentary said they pointed to the truth that Jesus would be worshiped by all nations. This brought to mind:

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, 
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, 
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
to the glory of God the Father.” 
(Philippians 2: 9-11, NASB)

Jesus.
His Name above every other name. 

Every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth. May we remember this when we need to press on in prayer and wage battles in this life.

Every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord. Every single tongue. Every tongue and tribe. No matter the country. No matter the continent.

May we be like these wise men and follow where He leads,
giving our all,
for this is how our hearts will be filled with great joy.

 

 

Reflection: 
What do you need to focus on during this time of waiting, Advent, so that your heart will be filled with joy?

 

Image by Norberto Navarro Valiente from Pixabay

 

Messy Miracles

 By: Lauren Thomas 

Miracles are rare. But if you’ve ever experienced one, you know it doesn’t always look the way you might have expected, and it doesn’t always turn out the way you would have chosen. I think about this a lot at Christmas time.

I think of Mary pregnant with the very Son of God. If you’ve experienced pregnancy, you know that pregnancy is uncomfortable, and even painful and unpleasant at times. Did Mary expect her pregnancy to go differently carrying God’s son?

 

I think of Mary giving birth in a messy manger, away from home, away from female family and friends to usher her baby into the world.

 

I think of the King of Kings being born among animals and worshiped by social outcasts, shepherds.

 

I think of the Messiah. The Jews expected their messiah to have military might, to set them free from foreign governments and oppression. But he was humble and submitted to death on a cross.

 

These were all messy miracles by our measure. We might have planned a painless pregnancy for Mary, a pristine palace and a mighty Kingdom for a King. But these messy miracles still manifested the marvels of God!

 

*Trigger Warning* I know a little something about messy miracles. At 14 weeks pregnant, I was told I was losing my baby, that it was “inevitable.” But without medical intervention, my loss was reversed – God sustained my pregnancy. God gave me the miracle. I expected that miracle would carry to term, a full 40 weeks. But at 23 weeks I was hospitalized and at 24 weeks I delivered by c-section. My baby boy remained in the NICU for 5 months before we got to take him home. The first 2 years at home involved 10+ medical specialists and therapists, almost weekly appointments, and a handful of hospitalizations. It was a messy miracle.

 

But the miracle is not just that we now have a healthy toddler, but the marvel of what God has done in me through it all.

 

I want to look into your eyes as I type now, tears welling up in my eyes, and tell you this: If what you are facing is messy, don’t for a minute think that God isn’t in it. Miracles are messy. AND God will still manifest himself in the marvels he is working along the way. Don’t give up, because God’s not done. Just because it doesn’t look how you would expect, or it doesn’t feel the way you imagined, God is working. And it will turn out for God’s glory and your good.

 

May we only respond to God the way Mary responded to the angelic announcement:

 

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:38 ESV

 

And believe that God’s marvels are manifested even in the messiest of miracles.

 

Reflection:

Can you think of other examples in Scripture of messy miracles? (Example: Wouldn’t it have been easier if Lazarus hadn’t died in the first place?)

What messy miracles have you experienced in your life? How has God manifested himself in those miracles?

What “messy miracles” are you in the middle of right now?