Away in a Manger: Making Room for Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Providence in the Census: God’s Timing Holds

Caesar thought he ran the world, but heaven used his decree like a chess move to place Mary and Joseph exactly where prophecy said the Messiah would arrive. When your life feels like the wheels are coming off, remember that nothing is accidental, incidental, or coincidental in God’s hands. He governs empires and calendars, but also quietly cares for your steps. “Fear not” is not a slogan; it is the steady heartbeat of Scripture because the Lord is sovereign and near. Trust that the Lord’s purpose will stand, even when you cannot see the pattern yet [45:08]

Isaiah 46:10–11: I announce the outcome from the very start, and what I plan is what will be done; I summon whoever I choose to carry out my purpose, and what I have promised I bring to completion.

Reflection: Where does your life feel precarious right now, and what is one small act of trust you can take this week to acknowledge God’s steady hand over it?

Day 2: Bethlehem: Small Place, Completed Promise

Joseph and Mary took a risky 90-mile journey, likely in the cold, because their lineage and God’s plan pointed them to Bethlehem. That little “podunk” town—humble, crowded, ordinary—was the exact spot God named centuries earlier through Micah. The world saw census and inconvenience; heaven saw promise and precision. Mary went because she knew: the Redeemer would be born there, and God keeps His word. Let the specificity of Bethlehem remind you that God’s promises are not guesses but guarantees [52:47]

Micah 5:2: Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you seem too small to matter, from you will come a ruler for my people, one whose origin reaches back before time.

Reflection: What specific promise from God’s Word do you need to hold onto this week, and what step of obedience would show you believe He keeps it?

Day 3: The Incarnation: God With Us in Humility

The baby in the manger was no sanitized scene; there were tears, pain, and the rawness of birth because Jesus became fully human while remaining fully God. He entered our dust, not to be admired from a distance but to live among us and, in love, to die for us. He did not come out of obligation but out of desire to save. The manger points to the cross, where the penalty we could not pay was paid in full. Receive this mystery with faith, and let His humility shape your own [57:05]

Isaiah 7:14: The Lord Himself will give you a sign: a young woman, a virgin, will conceive and bear a son, and His name will be “God with us.”

Reflection: Where do you sense the Lord inviting you to a humbler posture, and what would that look like in a concrete choice you make today?

Day 4: From Manger to Majesty: Jesus Is Lord

He was born in borrowed places, died in obedience, and was raised in power; now He is exalted as Lord. One day every knee—angels, skeptics, kings, and demons—will bow, and every tongue will admit what is true: Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He is not coming to take sides; He is coming to take over. Joy comes when you acknowledge His Lordship now, not later. Surrender is not loss; it is the doorway to life [38:22]

Philippians 2:9–11: Because He went all the way to the cross, God lifted Him up and gave Him the highest name, so that at Jesus’ name every knee will bend—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—and every tongue will openly declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, bringing glory to the Father.

Reflection: In one specific decision you’re facing, what would it mean to treat Jesus not only as Savior but as Lord?

Day 5: Make Room: Daily Practices of Presence and Service

There was no room at the inn, but you can make room in your heart and schedule today. Open the door through quiet reflection, prayer, Scripture, and simple acts of service that mirror His humility. The manger is a signpost: God’s kingdom values love, sacrifice, and service over status and comfort. Let Jesus be at home in you, and let His presence overflow to those in need. Begin with one small space on your calendar and invite Him to fill it [33:35]

Revelation 3:20: Look, I’m at the door, knocking; when anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and share close fellowship with them.

Reflection: What is one specific time block you will clear this week to be with Jesus, and one tangible way you will serve someone in His name?

Sermon Summary

I opened with two stories—a KFC-crazed Christmas in Japan and a U.S. student barred from writing about Jesus—to show how easy it is to keep the season while missing the Savior. Luke 2 brings us back to the center: God moves history, not as a spectator but as Lord. Caesar Augustus thought he was tightening the tax rolls; God was keeping His promises. The “fullness of time” wasn’t luck; it was love planned before the ages. A census, an empire, a road system, and a young couple’s disruption were instruments in the hands of Providence.

Joseph and Mary’s 90–mile journey reminds me that faithful obedience often rides on the back of discomfort. Bethlehem was no palace—more like a one–light town with no vacancy. That is the point. The King chose poverty, obscurity, and an animal’s feeding trough. Not because He lacked power, but because He is humble. The manger is a mirror for discipleship: God comes low; we follow Him down into love and service.

The cradle is not the end of the story; it’s the doorway. Isaiah’s virgin sign and Micah’s pinpointed birthplace meet in Mary’s labor pains. The incarnation is holy humiliation—God clothed Himself in our dust. He did not arrive sanitized; He arrived human. And He came not only to live with us but to die for us. As I said, there are things God “can’t” do: He can’t sin, lie, or die. So the Son took on flesh so that He could die in our place. He didn’t go to the cross out of obligation; He went out of love, fulfilling every promise from Genesis to the prophets.

Today, Jesus is not merely the name of a child; He is Lord. Every knee—angelic, human, and demonic—will bow. The wise thing is to bow now, gladly. Make room for Him daily. Prioritize time in the Word and prayer. Embrace His humility. Serve the hungry, the lonely, and the hurting. The One once laid in a manger wants to make His home in your heart.

Key Takeaways

1. God governs empires for our good When Caesar counted citizens, God was keeping promises. Providence is not fragile; it bends history to the exact coordinates of redemption. Even our disruptions can be invitations to trust the One who writes endings from the beginning. Courage comes from remembering who truly sits on the throne. [43:01]
2. Bethlehem shows promises kept precisely Micah’s ancient promise narrowed the world to one small town, and God moved millions to get Mary there. Faithfulness may require long, uncomfortable roads, but divine timing is never late. God’s precision is personal—He is not merely accurate; He is attentive. Trust Him with both your location and your timing. [52:47]
3. The incarnation is holy humiliation God clothed Himself in our dust and entered blood, tears, and cries—not a sanitized nativity. He came near enough to suffer with us, and near enough to suffer for us. This disrupts religious polish and calls us to be present in others’ pain. Humility is the doorway through which divine love enters the world. [55:28]
4. Jesus chose the cross—and Lordship He didn’t die because He had to; He died because He wanted to, fulfilling Scripture and the Father’s will. Resurrection crowned Him as Lord, and all creation will acknowledge it. Surrender now aligns your life with ultimate reality—and turns fear into worship. [63:50]
5. Make room for Jesus daily Christmas busyness easily crowds out Christ, so choose rhythms that keep Him close: quiet, Scripture, prayer, and service. The manger is not décor; it’s a discipleship pattern—downward mobility for the sake of love. Let humility reorder your calendar and your comforts. [66:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:23] - Snow story and gathering again
[35:32] - Two modern stories: no room for Jesus
[38:22] - Luke 2:1-7 read aloud
[40:03] - Prayer: glory, mystery, and mission
[43:01] - Fullness of time: God’s sovereignty
[48:12] - Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey
[50:26] - The humility of Christ’s birth
[52:47] - Micah 5:2: Bethlehem chosen
[55:28] - Incarnation and the virgin sign
[58:37] - What God can’t do—and the cross
[60:50] - Every promise kept in the manger
[63:50] - Jesus is Lord: every knee bows
[66:36] - Make room daily; serve with humility
[69:16] - Prayer and invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 2:1–7

Observation questions

In Luke 2:1–7, what concrete details anchor the story in real history (names, places, events), and what simple actions do Joseph and Mary take?
“God was in control of Caesar Augustus.” What specific world conditions were mentioned that set the stage for Jesus’ birth in “the fullness of time”? [43:01]
“It was 90 miles... 9 to 10 miles a day.” What made Mary and Joseph’s journey difficult and risky, and what does that show about their obedience? [48:12]
“Bethlehem was a little podunk town... he wasn’t born in a palace.” What signs of humility surround Jesus’ birth? [50:26]

Interpretation questions

If “God was in control of Caesar Augustus,” how should believers understand God’s providence working through governments and leaders they may not agree with? [43:01]
Given the costly journey—“it was 90 miles... 9 to 10 miles a day”—what does this suggest about how God often ties obedience to discomfort or disruption? [48:12]
If “the incarnation of Jesus Christ is possibly the greatest illustration of humiliation ever recorded,” what does this reveal about the heart of God and the kind of kingdom He brings? [55:28]
Since “every knee... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” what does it mean in practice that Jesus is Lord now, not only in the future? [01:03:50]

Application questions

“What’s happening every day may seem accidental... but God sees it as fundamental.” Where have recent disruptions in your life actually been invitations to trust God’s hand? Share one, and how you might respond differently this week. [45:08]
“God disrupted the lives of millions... so that two teenagers would go 90 miles.” Where do you need to trust God with your location and timing right now—job, family, finances, school? What would trusting His precision look like in action? [45:08]
“Bethlehem was a little podunk town... he wasn’t born in a palace.” What would “downward mobility for the sake of love” look like for you this month—one concrete way to choose humility over comfort or status? [50:26]
“There was blood and there was mucus and there was afterbirth... but there was great joy.” Who around you is hurting right now? What’s one specific way you can be present in their pain this week, like Jesus who came near enough to suffer with us? [57:05]
“Make room for Jesus every day... spend time in quiet... prayer... serve.” What simple daily rhythm will you choose for the next 7 days (time, place, plan) to keep Jesus at the center? Who could keep you encouraged and accountable? [01:06:36]
“Every knee... every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” What area of your life is resisting His Lordship—time, money, relationships, habits? What first step of surrender can you take before the group meets again? [01:03:50]
“Jesus... went to the cross... because he wanted to.” How does knowing He chose the cross out of love—not obligation—change your worship, your willingness to obey, and your approach to serving others this week? [58:37]

Sermon Clips

seeGod is in control of all things I want you to remember this when your life feels like the wheels are spinning off I want you to remember that we have a sovereign God that is in charge of all things Caesar Augustus thought he was God he truly did the emperors were worshipped as gods in those days in that Roman Empire there were a bunch of pagans but Caesar Augustus decreed that all the world should be registered [00:42:00] (29 seconds) #GodRulesOverChaos

Caesar Augustus thought he was God he truly did the emperors were worshipped as gods in those days in that Roman Empire there were a bunch of pagans but Caesar Augustus decreed that all the world should be registered now the purpose of this registration which was really a census was so that people might be accurately and properly taxed it always comes down to taxes doesn't it it always comes down to the money right you know and so the bureaucracy in the military machinery of the Roman Empire was expanding at such a rapid rate that it was starving financially [00:42:13] (38 seconds) #GodWorksThroughHistory

that fullness of time came at the perfect time why because it was God's timing it was God's timing that this happened then and there so there was peace there was peace in the world there was peace when the son of God was born but somebody one time said peace comes at a stiff price and so the Roman Empire they needed money and so Caesar Augustus thought he thought of a wonderful wonderful plan and on the surface it seems that the driving force behind the census was greed it was actually God it was actually God [00:43:03] (39 seconds) #GodsPerfectTiming

when God makes a promise it's done there is no follow up as humans when you give somebody an order or a command you have to follow up we trust but we verify well if you gotta verify you don't trust that's what I always tell people but you've always gotta follow up with people did you do what I asked you to do with God when God says it's done you don't have to check up on him it's done and when God makes a prophecy you can count it as finished because God is sovereign and he has universal power [00:44:31] (35 seconds) #WhenGodSaysItsDone

Bethlehem was a little podunk town it was not the kind of place that you would expect the king of glory to come to but that shows us something very important about Jesus Christ it is humility that Jesus humbled himself to come to this earth and not just come to the earth and he wasn't born in a palace he's the king of kings and lord of lords he should have been heralded down into a giant castle set in a golden throne but that's not how Jesus operated he was showing us even in the incarnation his humility [00:50:53] (38 seconds) #HumbleKing

That's why Christmas happened we celebrate Christmas because of Easter it's because of not the fact that Jesus was born it's the reason why Jesus was born and the reason why Jesus died because Jesus died for you and I and let's be very clear Jesus did not have to die now wait a minute Jim now you're getting into some weird theology I thought you yes in order for you and I to be saved Jesus had to die but he didn't have to do it because God is not under obligation to any man [00:59:54] (35 seconds) #ChristmasBecauseOfEaster

finally finally we're going to acclaim his Lordship Paul goes on to say that all this will be done to the glory of God the Father the purpose of this universe the purpose of history the purpose of our lives is to bring glory to God and the ultimate glory is going to be brought to God when we acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord friends if you want God to make room for you in heaven you'd better make room in your heart for Jesus now [01:05:04] (25 seconds) #DeclareJesusLord

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