A PATTERN OF HUMILITY

     Everything God says and does is deliberate and intentional, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The same intentionality applies to why Jesus lay in a manger. A manger is a feeding trough. Jesus lay in a manger deliberately, so that all who are hungry and thirst after righteousness are to come and eat, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED! “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51). But in order to eat of that bread, and from the hand that proffers it, man needs to humble himself and bypass the inn of the good life, being representative of the comfortable ways of man, and enter into the lowly place of the stable, being representative of the uncomfortable way of true humility.

     “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That Jesus was born in a manger is likewise deliberate and intentional, and is likewise profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Unless we are prepared to enter by the gate of humility, rather than stand by the door of pride, we shall never eat and be full, which is to be made perfect, which is to be thoroughly furnished for all good works. Which is to not be “conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2). For “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3). Which is to remain delightfully and forever teachable. A child naturally and delightfully watches and learns, and in doing so, grows up into the fullness of all that which he observes about him, that he may be thoroughly equipped for every good work later on in life.

     Speaking of being lowly, being representative of being humble, at the same time, another name for a manger is a trough. The dictionary provides the following definitions of a trough, showing a consistent pattern of being lowly, regardless of from what perspective you look at it, whether that is spiritually, or from an economic, meteorological or oceanographical perspective.

     1. “any long depression or hollow, as between two ridges or waves.” - Rather than riding the top of the wave of life, like those in the inn, being the good life, the lull between the high points of two waves represents the bottom of the wave, or a lowly place, being the pattern of humility.

     2. “Oceanography. a long, wide, and deep depression in the ocean floor having gently sloping sides, wider and shallower than a trench. Compare trench (def 4).” - The ocean floor represents the lowest place, being the pattern of making himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7), of being humble.

     3. "Meteorology. an elongated area of relatively low pressure.” - Again the pattern of humility.

     4. “the lowest point, especially in an economic cycle.” - Again, depicting the priority and pattern of being lowly. Of accepting the hand that feeds it. Of not being too proud to take food from another like a beggar.