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.

In 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