There's Hope For TodaySample

Seth was the handyman at the Bethlehem Inn. He took care of the livestock, picked up and fixed up, and helped with the day-to-day running of the place. For his trouble he got pocket change, hot food, and a place to stay behind the kitchen.

Just after Seth hired on, he spent two weeks upgrading the stables. What had been little more than a cave was now a dry, covered lean-to with stall doors and feed troughs. Seth’s father taught him how to craft simple farm implements, and Seth finished out the stable with a portable manger. Twice repaired and scarred from hard use, the manger had served as feed station, workbench, step-up, and tool box.

But on that special night, Seth hurried to clean out the little manger for a most unlikely use. On that special night, the manger would serve as a cradle. That “cradle” would be remembered for a thousand years and more. Jesus began making the ordinary extraordinary in the stable. He had that effect on everything, and everyone He ever touched.

God still chooses ordinary vessels for extraordinary service. On this Christmas morning, remember Seth’s old manger. Christ is come to make something very special out of you. Merry Christmas.