Relatable Rags
Sunday, October 5
Luke 2:12 (NIV)
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Devotion
Jesus was not wrapped up in nice fancy clothes or a blanket. He had on dirty old rags. Rags that were used to clean things up. Rags that had oil and maybe blood on them. And he was laid in what was likely a dirty feeding trough that had residues of hay, oats, or corn. And despite all of that, He was visited by shepherds and wise men who honored Him as a king. Yet He did not let the fact He was wrapped in dirty rags as a baby stop Him.
Jesus did all that His Father asked of Him. Don't let your past define you—you're God's child. He redeems your trials to reach others. Only survivors of the same pain connect deeply. The hurting will listen to your story and hear how God transformed your life.
People like you who have been saved can reach down and help others out of the pit. Together we can work together and help people who are still hurting. We can hold each other up and keep each other from falling. It is our responsibility to reach out to the lost and suffering masses and tell them our story. Tell them how - by the grace of God - we beat addiction, depression, and disease. They need to hear the truth: that the same Savior who pulled you up can help them too.
One of our purposes as disciples is to bring people to Him. God doesn't want someone who is clean or has never been stained from life's problems. He wants people who have been broken, battered and scarred. He knows that people will stop and listen to someone who knows from experience what it is like. Don't be afraid to walk through that open door and reach someone today.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for boldness to share the story of how You blessed my life. Lead me to those who need to hear the testimony of Your grace and deliverance. I ask for the Holy Spirit to anoint the words that I speak, that they may bring encouragement, hope, and faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Apply It Today
Find Jesus in the Ordinary: Read Luke 2:12. Reflect on how God uses humble, “filthy” things to reveal His glory and pray for eyes to see Him in unexpected places.
Resources
Join Free Chapel for services today, either in person or online via the Free Chapel App or YouTube.
If you sense God is calling you to trust Him further, pinpoint an area of your life that he’s asking you to trust Him in. Here are some ways Free Chapel can help: