Every Christmas we see the manger scenes. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and oh yeah, Baby Jesus, there in all their plastic glory. But I hope you realize that these are not make-believe characters. They represent real people who experienced the same emotions you and I do.

So I wonder what if it was you? What if you had been Mary? A young girl, dedicated to God, pure, both physically and spiritually. What would you have done? Your reputation is being trashed. Your honor is questioned.

What if you had been Joseph? People are laughing and making fun of you. Your fiancé is pregnant and the baby is not yours. The Bible says that Joseph was a just man. What if it was you? Would you be a just man?

How about the innkeeper? The Bible never mentions an innkeeper. But if there had been an innkeeper and you were him, what would you do? Would you turn on the “no vacancy” sign? Would you turn away, so that you would not have to think about them? What if it had been you? Would you find room for Jesus?

But let’s get to the real Christmas story. What if you were God? People are Your most precious creation. But they have broken Your heart. They have rejected You and sold themselves to the enemy. What would you do?

I don’t know about you, but I would be inclined to just knock earth out of its orbit and let it fly a few million miles closer to the sun. That’s what we all deserve! But that’s not what my God did. You see we are created in His Image. We are His most precious creation. He loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, for us.

Forget the question. Because it is you. The manger scene is all about you. You are lost in your trespasses and sin. But there is a gift for you. You won’t find this gift under a tree. The tree comes later, in the shape of a cross. You will find this Gift beautifully wrapped, in swaddling clothes, in a manger, in a stable.

You see the Christmas story is all about how much God loves you. The real question is what are you going to do with God’s Gift? “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Email- pavementendsministry@gmail.com