12-15-2018

Good Morning All,

       Luke 2:16; “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”

    There was a movie that came out many years ago called “Searching for Bobby Fischer”.  It is about a young boy whose family is determined to maximize the young man’s ability to play chess.  They hire a strict disciplinarian who tries to mold him into the next Bobby Fischer.  The young boy follows his heart and listens to a different man about a better way to play.  It is amazing how often the theme of looking for someone or something is used in movies and television.  Richard Kimbel was looking for the one-armed man.  Briscoe County Jr. was looking for Bly and the orb.  Indiana Jones wanted the Ark and the Grail.  Even Sherlock Holmes looked for Professor Moriarty.  Everyone looking for everyone.  The key element was to always have a clue to point you in the right direction.  Where do you start, where do you look; follow the clues.

    Of course, on television or in the movies writers make sure that you find and follow the right clues.  Real life doesn’t work that way, just ask any mechanic or doctor.  Clues are not always clear or obvious.  All of which brings us to our verse about how a group of shepherds went to Bethlehem one evening and found a baby in a hay feeder.  Even Sherlock wouldn’t have gone there; why did the shepherds?  They went for one reason; they were told that was where they would find him.

    The angel told them the sign to look for was a baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  They found Jesus in the manger because they looked for a baby in a manger.  They didn’t have to knock on doors or check in the inn; they only needed to look right where they were told to look; in a manger.

    Those two thousand years ago shepherds knew where to look because they were told where to look.  Today, we know where to find God; He is right where He said He would be.  We find God, in the person of Jesus, in the precious Word which He gave us and in the sacraments He created for us.  Anytime you want to find Jesus, just look where He told you He would be.  You don’t have to go on a lifelong pilgrimage or meditate on a rock somewhere; you just have to open your Bible and read.  You don’t have to wonder where He is; He is in the bread and the wine which He broke and poured for his disciples.  Jesus is right here, right now.  He is closer to you than you can ever imagine.  He is in your heart and he wants you to seek Him so you can have a stronger faith and a more resilient relationship with Him.  Jesus is right where He has always said He will be so you can find whenever you desire.

Gracious Lord, lead me to find you at all times.  Lead me to seek your face and your favor in all that I do.  Guard my thoughts and my emotions from fear and the ways of the devil.  Keep me safely in your loving embrace.  In your precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret