You can be confident that God was in control of every detail of Jesus’ birth — including where He would be born, and to whom. And you also can be confident that it was God’s will for His Son to be born in a stable instead of a palace.

Why was this? One reason is because God wanted to show us that Jesus Christ came to bring salvation to everyone — not just the rich and powerful, but the poor and downtrodden. God’s love extends to the whole human race! And Jesus showed us the depth of God’s love by willingly leaving heaven’s glory and sharing in our poverty. The Bible says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

In addition, because He was born into a poor family, we know that Jesus understands what it means to be poor — as almost everyone was then, and still is in most parts of the world. He also understands the temptations and sorrows we all face, and He knows too the fear and guilt that trouble our souls. As the Bible says, Jesus “has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

The real question, however, is this: Have you paid attention to Jesus? What place does He have in your life? This Christmas may you join with the shepherds and wise men in worshipping Him as your Savior and Lord.