Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her Firstborn Son, and wrapped HIM+ in
swaddling clothes, and laid HIM+ in a manger; because there was no room for
them in the inn.
Swaddling a baby seemed to be a custom in the lands of the Orient.
It consisted of enveloping the infant with strips of cloth, wrapping the babe
and totally binding him. The purpose was
to limit or restrict movement, to restrain the babe supposedly from hurting
himself.
The Royal SON+ of GOD Who+ left His+ Glory, the Glory which
HE+ had with The FATHER before the world began, entered the realm of
man clothed in this restricted fashion.
From his first hour out of the womb, The LORD JESUS was totally
restrained and limited.
The LORD JESUS came to earth ...being found in fashion as a man,
HE+ humbled Himself+... to take upon Himself+ the restrictions of a human
being. HE+ voluntarily embraced the humility of being as limited as the ones
HE+ created, in conjunction with The FATHER'S good Will.
Can we imagine how demeaning that was? How limited would it be for
a Potter to become a clay jar, a vessel of his own creation ? From Glory with The FATHER, HE+ became a clay
vessel to be used by the dirty and befouled hand of man.
Yet, The LORD JESUS came to earth and was appointed to this
humility. HE+ agreed with The FATHER'S will BEFORE HE+ left His+ throne
in Glory.
HE+ embraced --- before HE+ was born --- His+ swaddling
clothes.
Do we ?
Let us Pray:
O LORD JESUS, I call THEE+ "Lord, Lord," yet I have rejected the very first step to
begin my intensive walk with THEE+: to
embrace the restrictive swaddling clothes, the clothing of Thy+ Choosing.
I shudder to don them daily. I shy away from limitations that
restrict my day, my flesh, my thoughts.
I fail to bring them in line with Thy+ Holy Discipline... that
discipline which THOU has chosen for
me.
O HOLY FATHER, THOU Who constrained and limited Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS
when HE+ took upon Himself+ the form of
a man, THOU knowest what is best for me
also.
To bring Glory to Thy Name, I need to heed disciplines of
restrictions of my time, my actions, and my thoughts.
I need the discipline of limitations, especially of my interaction with others, in order to hear
Thy+ Voice. I need these disciplines in order to grow straightly and properly and to be a
profitable servant of Thine.
Un-warp me from my crooked ways, O LORD; wrap me securely within
Thy+ limitations.
Enfold me within Thy+ Self, THOU+ Who+ hast become my Divine
Swaddler+. I yield my Self unto
THEE+. I am not mine own any longer; I
am bought with a price.
Because it is THEE+, O JESUS,
Who+ restricts me, I embrace the
disciplines of constraints and
limitations which THOU+ dost plan for my
good.
O HOLY ONE+ of Israel Who+ came as a Babe+ and Who+ was immediately
swaddled in humility, grant me Thy+ Grace to be swaddled by THEE+ .
Let this Divine Humility be
according to Thy+ Will and purpose. Let
it become my armor, O GOD.
In JESUS' name I pray: now unto the KING Eternal, immortal,
invisible, the ONLY wise GOD, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
