December 23, 2024 Devo

This is another of those passages that we sometimes blow right by without catching the full effect. The angels had just announced to the shepherds that the Messiah had arrived. The Messiah…the Anointed One…The One who had been prophesied about, looked for, and prayed to for centuries was now here. You had to be a Jew to fully appreciate the magnitude of this moment.
The Messiah was The One the Jews believed would restore them as a nation. Many believed He would be a mighty warrior who would lead an insurrection and overthrow the Roman empire. They imagined someone with power, prominence, and position. A king, not a common baby. A mansion, not a manger. Surrounded by an army, not a bunch of animals. Where the angels sent the shepherds was not where they would have expected to find Jesus. But that’s just like God, isn’t it? He shows up in the most unlikely of places.
Maybe you’ve already discovered that. I could introduce you to people who stumbled upon Jesus in a prison cell. They weren’t looking for Him, but He was looking for them. And He found them! I could point out people who have told me how God showed up in their car one day. They were listening to a message or a song or just lost in thought as they drove along. And suddenly, there He was. His presence was so overwhelming they had to pull off the road. God’s like that. He shows up in coffee shops, street corners, and dark bedrooms where the doors are shut and the curtains pulled. And yes, He can even show up in a barn, or a cave, or a manger.
Where will Jesus show up for you this Christmas? Where will He make His presence known or make His Spirit felt? The Messiah doesn’t always show up with grand showings of power and might. Sometimes He shows up in quiet places and simple surroundings. Look for Jesus this Christmas. You may spot Him in the most unusual places. One thing is for certain. He’s looking for YOU! That’s God’s Word for you today.