AND THIS SHALL BE A SIGN

Signs are important. Before making big decisions, we pray and sometimes ask God for signs.  Regarding the birth of Jesus, God gave many signs. The Second coming is another important event, and Jesus himself has given the signs of the end times in Matthew 24.  Sometimes, people asked God for a sign. We read the story of Gideon in Judges Ch 4. Gideon asked God for a sign to know that God would save Israel by Gideon's hand.  King Hezekiah asked God for a sign of his healing (2 Kings 20: 1-10). 

In Luke's Gospel (Lk.2:4-14), we see the story of the birth of Jesus.  Mary gave birth to her Son in a cowshed. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.  The next event recorded in the Gospel of Luke is the angel's announcement to the shepherds in the field. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (Lk 2:11,12).  God made Mary as a sign to the Shepherds!

The sign that came 700 years earlier said, 'A Virgin will bear a Son' (Isaiah 7:14). But now the sign given to the shepherds was based on what God saw Mary doing. God watched over Mary as she gave birth to her Son in a cowshed and watched her wrapping her Son in soft rags and laying Him down in a manger! And that was the sign God gave to the shepherds. God saw what Mary did and gave that as the sign so that the Shepherds can find Jesus.  Many babies must have been born in Bethlehem around that time. Usually, babies would be wrapped in old soft clothes. But no one was laid in a manger, in a cowshed. What Mary did that day became the sign for the shepherds to find Jesus.

My friend, God is watching you and me as we go about our lives.  God is watching us how we handle our problems and pain.  God is watching us how we handle situations in integrity of heart. Would what we do, lead someone to Christ?  That is the question you and I have to answer today.

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