Why did the wise men in Matthew's Christmas story see the Star, but Herod and his council did not? Why did the angels in Luke's Christmas story go out into the fields to tell the shepherds the news, instead of telling the people at the inn?
        I am continually amazed by the fact that the Bible reveals things to me that have gone unnoticed through many years of reading and re-reading.
        The Christmas stories, as told by Matthew and Luke, are no exception. Many times I read these accounts before I became aware that the folks nearby the place of the birth of Jesus didn't know what was going on, yet the Wise Men and the shepherds (all of whom were far away) were made aware.
        Another question came to me: Are we not glad that we have Matthew and Luke's Christmas stories? What kind of Christmases would we have today if we did not have these stories?
        But we do have Matthew with the Wise Men and Herod. And are we not sometimes like Herod and his advisers-even today -- even at Christmastime -- when we become so wrapped up in the things of the world that we cannot see the blessings of God in our own backyard? How we stop the flow of good when we have thoughts of jealousy or feelings that someone can take our good away from us!
        In Luke's version the folks at the inn were so busy with the goings on that they couldn't hear the angels. Some were probably celebrating seeing old friends or relatives whom they had not seen since the last census or other occasion for visiting Bethlehem. There may have been some who were so angry over having to come so far when they could have been doing things they wanted to do back home that they closed their eyes to the light of the Star or turned a deaf inner ear to the promptings of Spirit.
        We can rejoice, however, for there are still the "Wise Men" within each of us who see the light and are willing to tell others the good news.
        And we can rejoice that there are angels who go out to where the shepherds are in the fields of peace and quiet (prayer and meditation). The story said that the shepherds were watching over their flocks by night.
        And so it is with us. The angels seek us out when we are watching over our thoughts and feelings -- often by night, in the quiet time, just as God came to Adam and Eve in the cool of the night, and as Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night.
        When we are calm, cool, relaxed, and put the activities of the day to rest, then we become aware of our spiritual nature -- the Christ within the manger of our hearts.
        But how often we find this babe in the manger wrapped in the confining clothes of limitation. Is He not sometimes wrapped so tightly in fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety that He is unable to shine forth as peace, joy, health, and plenty?
        Another thought comes to me concerning the virgin birth. Neither Mary nor Joseph had anything to do with the planning of it. Mary conceived; but it was God's doing.
     So it is with us. The Christ within is God's gift of Himself to us. We have nothing to do with it, except just being what we are.
        All Mary and Joseph had to do with it all was to bring forth the child in all His glory and to care for Him until He grew and waxed strong.
        During that time they did have to watch over Him and listen and be obedient to the instruction and direction of God.
        The Christ within each of us is the gift of God from the beginning. But it is only during the quiet time of prayer -- a time of being apart from the things of the world -- that we find that we are "with child."
        Bringing forth the Christ is our daily mission. We have the sign, now comes the task of removing the swaddling clothes of ignorance and error.  -- George R. Hausmann

His Glory

"And the Word became flesh. And pitched his tent among us, And we gazed upon his glory, -- A glory... Full of favour and truth" (John 1:14 -- Rotherham).

I love Rotherham's translation of John 1:14 -- it is so beautiful. We've tended to think of Christ's coming to the earth as a man only in terms of His self-denial in leaving glory, or else in terms of His suffering on this earth. But I believe it was a joy to Christ, who so loved man and so desired man's fellowship, to "pitch His tent" among us so that He might give to alienated man -- who had never known his Creator --a true conception of His Heavenly Father.
     It was good tidings of great joy which the angel proclaimed to the shepherds - and to all people everywhere. Man, separated from God for four thousand years, could now gaze upon God's glory, could now see God, could now know God as He is, and could now be reunited with Him!

     "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10,11). The Word has become flesh!

     Confession: Like the multitude of the heavenly host, I, too, am praising God. Praise God for sending GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY! Praise God for sending a SAVIOR! Praise God for CHRIST THE LORD! Praise God for allowing us to gaze upon HIS GLORY!

Kenneth E. Hagin
From "Faith Food Devotions"