MONDAY MOTIVATION

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Welcome to Monday Motivation—a devotional blog to keep you encouraged throughout the week! My name is Pastor Guy Deckard and I am incredibly excited for you to join in every Monday.

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More Than a Manger

Posted on Dec 24, 2018 by Guy Deckard in #mondaymotivation | 285

More Than a Manger

(Taken from a devotion written for Christmas Eve.)

Where have you left Jesus this year?

SCRIPTURE:

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

OBSERVATIONS:

Name – Jesus = “the LORD saves”
- (Joshua = Yeshua)
He came to Save His people from their sin
- This was His mission / His purpose
His birth is not just a cute side dressing
- Or a cute little nativity scene on our coffee table
It is a story of salvation
A story that does not end in the manger but on the Cross.

MOTIVATION:

In eternity past God had chosen just the right moment for the Messiah to come to earth.The stage had been set, and all of the pieces were in place. The Roman government had built the infrastructure for the gospel to spread like wild fire.God the Father had chosen Joseph and Mary to be the parents to raise Him. And now the Emmanuel that was promised 700 years before by the prophet Isaiah was now ready to enter the stage.

The unknown angel instructed Joseph to call the baby “Jesus”, which means “The Lord Saves”. Many “Joshua’s” or “Jesus’” had been born over the years, but only one was the Christ. Only one could save us from our sins. It would take an incredible sacrifice in order for Him to fulfill His purpose. It would mean death on a cross. And yes – His resurrection.

So, don’t leave Jesus in the manger this year! Remember that He came to save the lost. He came to save the broken. He came to save the religious. The poor and down trodden. The rich and upward driven. And He came to save you.

Sometimes we like Him better as a baby. But He came for so much more! Where have you left Jesus this year?

Is He still in the manger? Or has He been busy changing your life?

PRAYER

Ask Him to show you where you have left Jesus this year. Has He made a difference in your life over the last twelve months or are you the same person? Ask Him to show you where you need to grow.

Devotionals by Date

January 2018