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PWTE Daily Devotion

A Little Dirt under the Wings

The work of angels isn’t always easy.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Are not all [the angels] ministering spirits
sent out to serve for the sake of those
who are to inherit salvation?”
Hebrews 1:14 English Standard Version

It is funny how you can take a picture of an object and not notice what you’re actually shooting.

December 27Don’t get me wrong, I knew that I was taking a picture of the angel at the top of the stable but I didn’t stop to look at the condition of the angel. Like the donkey yesterday, it is obvious that this is not the first time this angel has appeared in this nativity set.

Notice the dirt under its wings.

The job of angels is dirty work.

In both Luther’s morning and evening prayer he prayed, “Let your holy angel be with me, that the evil one may have no power over me.” It doesn’t get much dirtier than that.

Satan’s diabolical plan for you and me is to destroy our faith in Jesus Christ. The host of heaven are assigned to help guard and protect our faith in the one whose birth we celebrate more than protecting us from physical harm or danger, .

Though we know that the angels reflected the glory of God to the shepherds, we also know that they repeatedly work to protect our faith. So their wings get a little dirty. Praise God!

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

No One Is too Damaged for the Baby

Nothing can keep us out of the stable.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“But Moses said to God,
‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and
bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?'”
Exodus 3:11 English Standard Version

Off in the corner of the stable stands a donkey.

December 26In its journey through myriads of Advents and Christmases, this donkey has taken abuse. It shows the wear and tear of children playing with it. It even appears that someone repaired its ear that had fallen off.

Yet every year it takes its place as an important character in the story of our Lord’s birth. There are no characters too damaged to stand in the stable.

Moses was damaged goods, having killed an Egyptian, but God chose him. God empowered him. God graced him. He was not too damaged to be of value in our story of salvation.

Neither are you.

God invites you to join the birth of his Son even if you think you are not presentable. It is for this reason that the baby is born. He declares you presentable. You are his honored guest even if your ear has had to be fixed, even if you believe you have done something so horrible that God can’t love you. It is for you that the baby is born.

You are not too damaged for God’s love and forgiveness.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

The Gang’s All Here!

The stable is full when you and I are present.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“While they were there,
the time came for the baby to be born.”
 

Luke 2:6 New International Version

All the cast of characters who will take us through the twelve days of Christmas are in the stable.

December 25There are thirteen characters in the crèche. There are six humans, six animals and an angel hovering over the stable who didn’t make it into the picture.

Through the next twelve days we will not only contemplate the people in the story of Jesus’ birth but how these characters relate to each other.

The truth of Jesus’ birth is too important to skim over quickly.

We have twelve days to contemplate the figures in the stable: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the animals, the angel, a figure lurking in the shadows, and the baby.

As we journey with these characters we’ll find ourselves in the stable too. It is important for us to remember that this is not merely a story about a baby being born (that happens every day). This is a story of God entering human history. This is a story about what God has done for us and what he continues to do among us.

The gang’s all here only when you and I are in the stable.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Copyright Douglas P Brauner