“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.” – Luke 2:7

When the King of kings came into this world, He did not arrive with pomp and ceremony. He was not born in a palace, but in a stable. He was not laid in a royal crib, but in a manger; an animal’s feeding trough. There was no room for Him in the inn, and from the very beginning, Jesus identified with the lowly and the humble.

The humility of Christ’s birth teaches us something powerful about the heart of God. He does not value earthly status, wealth, or prestige. Instead, He delights in humility, simplicity, and obedience. This same Jesus would later teach, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).

Christmas invites us to re-examine our own hearts. Do we seek worldly honor, or do we walk in the humility of Christ? The manger shows us that true greatness is found in surrender to God’s will.

Pray for a humble heart that reflects Christ’s spirit, and ask God to use you as a vessel to serve others this season.