Open, Hands!

      People flock to the birth of a baby, to lay eyes on an armful of joy and the seed of a future. And, like Mary, we ponder.

     Does a baby love us? Not yet.  Does a baby do for us? Just the opposite.  Does a baby make life easier? Hardly.  A baby takes, receives, accepts - and all at a cost loving parents are more than willing to pay.

     Jesus, Eternal Giver, entered the world as a newborn, taking and receiving what was offered to Him.  He was a Baby who's conception caused speculation and scandal for Mary. Yet, she opened her hands and heart to what God offered her.  Joseph swallowed his pride and held out his hand in marriage to a woman pregnant with someone Else's child.  This couple's hands stayed busy preparing, packing and loading supplies for the difficult journey from home to Bethlehem.  On reaching their destination, they opened their hands to the innkeeper's key to the stable, rather than receiving the key to a private, clean room.

     The challenges and personal sacrifices Mary and Joseph made prepared their hands for the Miracle God placed there: the Key to His Kingdom,  His own Son, the Christ, the Savior, the Messiah. 

    Open, hands! Receive what God offers.  He's preparing you for more than this.

    Lord, God, may we humble ourselves as Jesus did to become a Baby on the receiving end.  May we live out the trusting humility Mary and Joseph did by opening our hands to whatever You offer.  At the moment, we're concerned with giving:  giving the right gift, giving enough, giving too much, giving just enough, but for today Lord, we open our hands to receive whatever You want to place in them.  We lift our hands to You to fill. We love You for measuring out, for pouring out, for giving until our cups overflow with Your grace gifts, for only then can we give what matters and in the right Spirit.

In the Name of Jesus Who humbled Himself and stretched out His Hands to receive the sick, the lame, the poor, the sinners, and the nails.