The Arrival
by Max Lucado

God had entered the world as a baby.

Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold.

The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor.

A more lowly place of birth could not exist.

Off to one side sit a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor; perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him--so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.

Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is. He can't remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy. He still hasn't figured it all out. The mystery of the event puzzles him. But he hasn't the energy to wrestle with the questions. What's important is that the baby is fine and that Mary is safe. As sleep comes he remembers the name the angel told him to use ... Jesus. "We will call him Jesus."

Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph's saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can't take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel. "His kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:33)

He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.

She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey!

This baby had overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.

Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.

Those who missed His Majesty's arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren't looking.

Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?

NIGERIA – Six Pastors Killed, 40 Churches Destroyed

Following Muslim attacks on Christians in Nigeria on Nov. 28-29, six pastors are dead, at least 500 other people killed and 40 churches destroyed, Compass Direct News reported. More than 25,000 persons were displaced in the two days of violence, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

What began as outrage over suspected vote fraud in local elections degenerated into angry Muslims taking aim at Christian sites rather than at political targets. Police and troops reportedly killed about 400 rampaging Muslims in an effort to quell the unrest, and Islamic extremists shot, slashed or stabbed to death most of more than 100 Christians killed.

The Voice of the Martyrs actively supports persecuted believers in Nigeria. When churches are destroyed, VOM assists in rebuilding efforts and provides Christian literature. VOM also supports the Families of Martyrs fund which provides financial aid to widows who have lost their husbands in religious attacks.

CHINA - Underground Christians Arrested

House church Christians continue to be targeted and arrested throughout China, according to a Dec. 4 report from China Aid Association. More than 50 house church Christians were gathered for fellowship in Xiji town, Zaozhuang city, Shandong province on Dec. 2 when Public Security Bureau officials surrounded them and arrested approximately 20 believers. The officials claimed that they would release the prisoners for 2500 Yuan (approximately US$27) each. On Dec.3, more than 50 house church Christians were arrested by local police in Tai Kang county, Henan province. At the time of the report, none of the believers had been released. Pray that these Christians will be released from detention. Pray that, like Paul, their imprisonment will result in the advancement of God's kingdom.

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