[Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Saturday, December 29 2012

[Paul]

Hello and good day to all my fellow saints of the Most High God, wherever in this world you happen to reside.  I hope that, by God's matchless grace and His providential care, that you are all enjoying a good morning, afternoon or evening, depending on the time of day that you read these words, but here in Western Hemisphere it is evening, and time to prepare our hearts and minds for tomorrow when we corporately worship, whether that be online, listening to the radio or TV, or going to a local community house of worship.

Continuing the Christmas theme, this story by an unknown author will especially appeal to those of you who like children or, if you are married, have children.  From a collection entitled "Stories For a Faithful Heart," it is entitled "Two Babes In A Manger," and is rendered as follows:

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools.  They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage.  About one hundred boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.  They relate the following story in their own words:

It was nearing the holiday season, 1994.  Time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem.  Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.  Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger.

Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me.  No colored paper was available in the city.  Following the instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.  Small strips of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady threw away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blankets.  A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.  The orphans were busy assembling their mangers as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.  All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat.  He looked to be about six years old and had finished his project.

As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.  Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.  Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.  For such a young child, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings very accurately, until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha started to ad-lib.  He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.  I told him I have no mamma and no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.  Then Jesus told me I could stay with him.  But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did.  But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift.  I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.  So I asked Jesus, If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?

"And Jesus told me, If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.  So I got in the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and told me that I could stay with him--for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks.  Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.  The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon or abuse him, someone who would stay with him, FOR ALWAYS.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

And there you have it.  Such a warm and touching story.  I know that when I first heard the Christmas story years ago for the first time, I never sobbed and cried, because I was never abused.  Perhaps, in some small way, Misha might have had foreknowledge of Christ's suffering for him, although I wouldn't know.  Anyway I hope you enjoyede this story, and feel free to pass it onto other parents and others who really love children.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  I also pray that you will apply what you will hear and learn to your individual lives as the gracious Holy Spirit enables as you listen to your pastors and/or Sunday School teachers tomorrow.  For those of you in Australia and New Zealand, I pray that you did this.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul