Be His Bethlehem

Here is the quiet time reading I had yesterday, Christmas Day from the book, "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers (page 360). Perfect continuation of the song message that inspired me two nights before. Thank you Jesus!

"'HIS BIRTH AND OUR NEW BIRTH
"Behold, a virgin shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Isaiah 7:14)

HIS BIRTH IN HISTORY. "Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being, He is a Being Who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside. His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the Lowliest door. Our Lord's birth was an advent.

HIS BIRTH IN ME. "Of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) Just as Our Lord came into human history from outside, so He must come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a "Bethlehem" for the Son of God? I cannot enter into the realm of the Kingdom of God unless I am born from above by a birth totally unlike natural birth. "Ye must be born again." This is not a command, it is a foundation fact. The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me. Immediately Christ is formed in me, His nature begins to work through me.

God manifests in the flesh---that is what is made profoundly possible for you and me by the Redemption."'


Lord, help me to continually work at pushing out of your manger in my soul, my God spot, the place for Jesus' spirit to reside in me--- all of the things that take His place...every longing, desire, everything that is not of you Lord...desire for comfort, security, money, possessions, good image, etc. Make them prick my spirit so that I am always compelled to kick them out at the slightest hint of their presence so that only you reside in me---Your Bethlehem. It may be dirty, lowly, humble and unworthy, but I hope it always, I always, have a vacancy for YOU...and YOU ALONE. Make me your Bethlehem!