✝ Daily Encouragement (12/18/23) "A Throne For A Manger"
Published: Mon, 12/18/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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![]() Home Archives About Us ![]() ![]() Monday, December 18, 2023
"A Throne For A
Manger"
Message summary:
Today we consider when Jesus exchanged His throne for a manger.
What a difference it makes for me to personalize the incarnation of Jesus and consider that God has indeed "come to earth for
me".
Listen
to our
message on your audio player.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7).
The yearly calendar has forwarded us to the date when churches pull out all the stops and present their choral
music, pageantry, children's programs, Christmas dinners, and all the other ways we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ's arrival to earth clothed in human flesh. Yesterday our choir and orchestra presented a number of Christmas songs that clearly spoke of that joyous occasion. The choir and orchestra appeared to be about the size it was
pre-covid.
We, like most of you, enjoy the music during the Christmas season. We value the songs from our childhood like
"Joy To The World", "O Come All Ye Faithful" and many others. We also enjoy new music such as "Manger Throne" a theologically rich Christmas song by Phil Wickham.
In our view we feel there is a needed balance between the new and the old, both of which can bring glory to
God and edification to His followers. When you think about it all songs were at one point contemporary to the generation in which they were introduced!
Today we consider when Jesus exchanged His throne for a manger.
Today, let us consider "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne" published over 150 years ago in 1870 by Emily
Elliot. It begins:
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly
crown,
when Thou camest to earth for me; But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room for Thy holy nativity. Miss Elliot originally wrote this song to teach children the truths of the advent and nativity. Considering the rich theological depth of the song, which focuses not only on Christ's birth, but also His life, suffering, death and ultimate triumph, it may surprise you that it was initially intended as a children's song. Today let's focus on the words, "When Thou camest to earth for me". This describes what is theologically known as the incarnation. The noun "incarnation" is derived from the ecclesiastical Latin verb incarno, meaning "to make into flesh" or "to be made flesh". In His incarnation God in Christ "came to earth". The apostle Paul, in his magnificent incarnation passage states, "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7). What a difference it makes to me personally when I, like the songwriter, personalize the incarnation of Jesus and consider that God indeed "camest to earth for me".
Theologian Herman Bavinck states, "But what spells out His grace is the fact that from the moment of
creation God stoops down to His creatures, speaking and appearing to them in human fashion". The incarnation is God’s ultimate demonstration of grace in sending His one and only Son to this world to die for our sins.
Let's remember this wonderful truth today, this season, and all our lives! How blessed we are that God
came to the earth to live among us! Let's always follow Him who gave His all for us!
When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall
sing,
At Thy coming to victory, Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room, There is room at My side for Thee.” We would be remiss not to include the chorus of this sacred hymn that is really an invitation to make room in our hearts for Christ to dwell therein. If you haven't already done so, make the following words the prayer of your heart: O come to my heart, Lord
Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Be encouraged
today,
(
Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
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"Manger Throne" Watch on YouTube
Phil Wickham
Watch on YouTube
The selection of music from our service yesterday at Calvary Church
Barns Of Berks County Today we feature one of my favorite photographic subjects: barns. Berks County is adjacent to and northeast of Lancaster County. It has a city, Reading, (pronounced Redding) but also beautiful rural areas and many picturesque barns. These photos were taken several years ago when we had snow! ![]() Huge wreath on stone barn in Berks County. The vertical slits are known as "balistratus" used for ventilation. Click on image to enlarge ![]()
We have had several company Christmas banquets.
Friday evening we attended one for JK Mechanical. For 13 years now we've been given the privilege of reading the Christmas story from Luke (Brooksyne's part) followed by prayer (my part).
Yesterday the teaching team from our Crossroads
Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) class had a panel discussion in our final class gathering for the year. Rick, our class leader, is asking us questions. I am one of five teachers (one was missing) who take turns teaching.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options