HY ARE WE SO SURPRISED THAT JESUS WAS BORN IN A STABLE?
Have we not yet understood from our own experience
That He is always moving in “as is”
And then cleaning up from within?
He could not wait until the world was good enough before He came;
It would never be good unless He came.
And He will not wait until you are good enough before He comes to you;
You will never be good unless He comes.
Don’t wait until you’ve cleaned the stable,
Mucked out the stalls,
Carted out the dung, Aired out the stench. You can’t, you know; it’s you who smells of offal.
He knows, He understands,
He has been in the muck before,
At that other Birthing.
He will gladly endure the muck of your place
To birth you back to His.
Don’t wait!
Swing wide the door of your hovel and invite Him in.
As is. ______________
Valerie N. Phillips is associate director of the women's residence hall at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where she has ministered to collegiate women for more than 25 years.
