The Manger Zone
I am borrowing the following quote from Johnny Enlow to use as the foundation principle of my post today.
“God loves doing greater things in manger scenes!”
As an athlete we love talking about entering the zone! “They were in the zone” is a common phrase used to describe when an athlete enters a time where he or she can’t miss or do any wrong. Let’s talk about an even better zone than that!
“The Manger Zone” speaks of an undesired location that Mary and Joseph ended up in after doing all they could to find a nice room in a comfortable hotel. After realizing not only were they not going to find a room in a five star hotel, they were not even going to find a room at a KOA campground.
It was at that time that Mary and Joseph entered “The Manger Zone”. They were led to go where only the animals were forced to stay. Whether this was a cave or a stable is uncertain, but the fact that the audience for the birth of the King of Kings was likely a goat, cow, horse, camel and/or pig is so God!
Did Jesus show up at Allen Fieldhouse or Cameron Indoor Stadium? Did he make his debut in the house that Jerry Built in AT&T Stadium or to the roar of Arrowhead Stadium? No, Jesus showed up in a lowly minuscule location in the little town of Bethlehem, which literally means “the house of bread”.
The Savior of the world was placed in a cow trough, nicely referred to these days as a manger. If it was your house, the “Bread of Life” would have been placed in your dog bowl or even more accurately in the dog bowl in the dog house in your back yard.
The fact that this is true should bring unwavering exponential hope to everyone today! Especially the lost, poor in spirit, and to those that are looked upon as less than worthy of greatness or the spectacular.
How can you purchase a ticket or qualify to enter “The Manger Zone”? God is looking for people who are not set on stealing His Glory.
We all love a Cinderella Story, but not as much as God. USA Hockey’s miracle on ice, the legend of Hoosiers, and Jim Valvano’s NC State Wolfpack’s unlikely tale are just a few stories that come to mind that end up as box office hit movies as a result of being birthed in “The Manger Zone”.
Why wouldn’t Jesus, who was the humble star of the original manger cast, look for other potential unsung heroes in that same kind of location.
Actually, it is more about the manger of the heart than it is of an actual location. Jesus is looking to live, dwell, and work inside of a heart that resembles His birthplace. If you have been tied down by circumstance, told you are not noble or worthy, and if you have been made to believe that there is no way God could use you, then you hold an invitation to “The Manger Zone”.
David, a shepherd boy who his own earthly father did not see as king material, was chosen by God. Mary, a young girl lowly in nature, was chosen and highly favored by God. Each disciple that Jesus chose was far from worthy or qualified to reach the world for Jesus, yet they were his top 12 draft picks!
God is still picking donkeys to be loosed and used by Jesus to make triumphant entries for all to see. Nobody on that day was cheering for the donkey as Jesus rode him into Jerusalem through the cities East Gate. They were actually looking for a white stallion, while God was looking for you!
If you are considered as likely as a donkey to win the Kentucky Derby, then you qualify to be used mightily for Jesus. How mightily you may ask? Greater than you can even dream or imagine.
Your ability and your past are incapable of disqualifying you from contention. Through the power of the cross and the Blood of Jesus, all it takes for you to become a candidate is repentance, asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, and then giving your full obedience to the Master.
I promise you this. If you have the guts to give Jesus all your heart and dreams, then nothing becomes impossible. As the old saying goes “no guts, no glory”. If you have the guts, you don’t need any glory, because Jesus has more than enough Glory, or power, to use you mightily. Jesus is just looking for a humble willing vessel that will follow and seek him unconditionally.
Jesus loves taking donkeys and winning the world’s most prestigious horse races! What are you waiting for? You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Jesus is calling you into “The Manger Zone” today!
Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash