YOU ARE ENOUGH
Daphne Powell
Today's Scripture: “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, ESV
Theme: Kings and royalty are usually expected to arrive in luxury; Jesus shattered the stereotypes from the beginning.
BIRTH
I suspect the manger Jesus was born in was not like a private suite with a bathroom, tv, and nurse. We would not expect a King to be born in anything less than the finest. But our King wanted us to see that we all are enough. I remember giving birth to my sons and realizing what unconditional love was. They were enough; I could not love them anymore if I tried. With His unconditional love, Jesus has shown me that I am enough. You are enough.
LIFE
We treat others with conditional respect and love. Those we consider smart, rich, lovely, or powerful we admire. But Jesus our KING showed that He had unconditional respect and love for all of humankind. God revealed His precious Gift to the lowly shepherds. He chose to give the foreign Magi a sign and invited them to come worship the newborn King.
Jesus performed so many miracles. He did not have people fill out a form to qualify for a miracle. He blessed people who had flaws: sinners, outsiders, people with disabilities, and those with infectious diseases. What was revealed was their faith, a love for the Lord, and the glory that they gave Him. In the same way, we too could be walking testimonies, if we praised Him even through the storms of life. We shouldn’t need a miracle from the King to prove He is real. We need to have faith that His will in our lives is enough.
DEATH
Jesus showed that He was the Messiah, the KING. He died on the cross for our sins, not His. He walked on this earth, never sinning. I have read so many four-page obituaries, telling of the deceased’s worldly accolades. We compare our mere existence to others. Instead, we should be asking Jesus what His will for our lives is. In death and resurrection, Jesus showed that we all have been given grace and mercy. If we want to walk with Him, we must first wake up and worship Him, spend quiet time in His Word, and pray for others.
Make It Personal: From His first breath to His last on the cross, Jesus walked the earth as a Man. He showed that we are enough, and He loves us unconditionally. So why do I struggle with feeling unworthy of His love, that I have disappointed Him, that I still sin. That is why staying in His Word and hearing of His love for me should confirm that I am enough.
Pray: Dear Lord, please help me know my worth. Help me find joy every day, no matter what it brings. I need the Spirit’s help to be an instrument for good so that when people see me, they see You. Amen.
Read: Luke 2:1-21, Luke 23:26-55
Weekly Memory Verse:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9, ESV