All You Want for ChristmasSýnishorn

Away In a Manger

“…I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky - And stay by my cradle ‘til morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay - close by me forever, and love me, I pray…”

Think

The planet we inhabit echoes, “There is a God” (Romans 1:20). The bodies that carry us through life reflect that God (Genesis 1:27). The complexity of life and our inner spirit whispers, “We aren’t in control, and there’s more to life than the here and now” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). And deep in our spirits we know, “We are not as we ought to be” (Romans 3:23).

Roll these realities into one, and it’s more than natural to find ourselves reflecting on our relationship with God (even if we’re not sure He exists), asking questions like, “Are God and I close…are we okay?” “Is God for me?” “Am I at peace with God?” “Will God abandon me?”

Google these questions, and we’ll likely be directed to thoughts like, “God loves you and is for you!” “Jesus lived and died for you - place your faith in Jesus and you will have eternal life… peace with God.” “God will never leave you or forsake you!” All profoundly true and foundational!

So, why might I still have that inner nag and resonate with lyrics from “Away in a Manger” (“...I ask Thee to stay - close by me forever…”)?

One answer to consider: God will not abandon or forsake his children - yet that doesn’t automatically mean we are relationally close. The scriptures teach that if we are proud - live life with no concern of submitting to God or trusting Him - we will feel distance and even opposition. Yet living humbly, taking responsibility for sin we commit, resisting evil - we will then experience God’s closeness (James 4:6-10).

Apply

As we think about living humbly, in what ways does your life demonstrate that? Sometimes we live with pride and make our own plans without consulting God (James 4:13-17). Is that something you’re doing? Are you also criticizing and judging others? (James 4:11-12)?

Pray

God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Guide me and lead me where to invest my time and energy today, and help me genuinely love the people in my life! Amen.

Author - Adam Nagle serves as the Executive Director of The Factory Ministries, a faith-based social service hub in Easter Lancaster County focused on tackling poverty through an empowered relational approach. He and his wife, Tonya, call Lancaster County home with their four children, Luke, Zac, Eden, and Ava.