God makes Himself available for you to stand before the manger. What response is He looking for from you when you face the presence of God? In 2 Chronicles 6, you get a picture of what a godly response looks like from King Solomon. Before he became king of Israel, his father David reigned. David made all the necessary preparations for the Lord to be able to reside among His people. A temple needed to be built, and God’s plan was to use this father and son to erect a place where people could come and offer sacrifices for their sins in His presence.
God wanted to dwell with His people.
In the first 5 chapters of 2 Chronicles, you read how Solomon continued the work that his father prepared in advance. At the end of chapter 5, you read, “At that moment, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.”13b-14
Chapter 6 reveals Solomon’s obedience to standing in the presence of God! Solomon prayed to God. Do you realize that prayer is the vehicle that leads you to God’s presence? Then he turned to the entire community of Israel and gave a blessing. He reminded them of how trustworthy God is to keep His promise He made to David. Solomon understood his role in God’s plan and carried out what God asked of him. He built the Temple. Next, he stood before the altar of the Lord while in front of everyone and lifted his hands in prayer, then he stood on a platform and knelt down to continue praying.
In Solomon’s prayer, you see 5 heart attitudes that God is looking for when you stand before the manger; see verses 14-17. The first attitude is understanding that God is the only place you need to go to. There is no God like the Sovereign God of heaven and earth! Second, you soon realize that God is constant and true. He keeps His covenant. His love is a committed love that deserves your utmost devotion back to Him. Third, God must become first in your life. God will show unfailing love to you when you walk before Him in wholehearted devotion. Fourth, God is 100% trustworthy. When He speaks, you can count on Him to carry out His Word. Finally, God will be found faithful to keep His promises only if you guard your behavior and faithfully follow God’s Word.
Standing before the manger, it matters how you live and how you think.
Jump to verse 31 where you see the why behind the importance of responding to God when you face His Son. “Then I will fear You, Lord, and walk in Your ways as long as I live in the land You gave.” One’s faith journey cannot stop at the manger. Satan would love for you to linger there, but God has so much more for you. God will lead you to the cross. Study the book of John to see why. Feel free to message me. I can email you a devotional on the book of John that I wrote. It is unedited, but it will help you to understand why it is important to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
Not only will your life take on a whole new look with a whole new identity, but others will hear of God’s great name, His strong hand, and His powerful arm (see verse 32) because you chose to see beyond the manger and respond in a manner worthy of Christ.
In Solomon’s day, it was a big deal for God to come and dwell with His people in the Temple. He gave His children a visual of Himself to help them believe and trust Him. Then, Jesus came, giving you and I the New Testament. God Himself, in human flesh, came to earth. He walked, talked, and felt every emotion that we feel. Because of His sacrifice, the priests no longer needed to atone for people’s sins. Believers can enter, for themselves, into the throne of the Lord openly and freely.
“This High Priest (Jesus) of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So, let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:13-14)
What response are you going to give Jesus this Christmas? I will leave you with this quote by Paul Washer, “Go offer your employer what you offer God and see how long you’ll last. Offer even acquaintances what you offer God and see how long they remain your friends. Offer your family what you offer God and see how long you have a family.” It matters how you respond to the most precious gift given to you by the God who loves you so.
Carol J German 