Don’t Be an Innkeeper! by Dr. Guy Saffold

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” - MATTHEW 2:10-11 Go Deeper— Are you feeling it, that, “there must be more to life than this?” Have you ever invited Jesus to forgive your sins and plant his Spirit in you, to connect the longing of your soul to God? If not, why not do that today? If you have taken that step but have neglected your relationship with God lately, then confess the foolishness of your self-reliance and ask Jesus again to be the center of your life. This season is the perfect time to do it. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” - MATTHEW 1:21 Go Deeper — Christmas is an opportunity to share God’s love. As you celebrate the season, contemplate the Name that saves. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart to share the mystery, miracle, and majesty of the incarnation and the profound significance of Jesus’ (Yeshua in Hebrew) name with people within your sphere of influence. Read Further — You may want to print out this Christmas Acronym to share with others today. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” - LUKE 2:19 Go Deeper — Whatever you are suffering, whether a loss of a loved one, a job loss, poor health or a heartache, remember that you have Savior who came to earth and suffered so you don't have to go through it alone. Hold on to that. Merry Christmas! Editor’s Note: This is Caroline’s last devotional. She is concentrating on being a fulltime mom. Caroline, thank you for writing for The Life. May God continue to bless you. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” - LUKE 2:6-7 Go Deeper — The Lord’s Prayer asks for God to give us our daily bread, Jesus. Pray this prayer today, and seek to satisfy your soul’s hunger by reading a few pages in the Bible each day this week, really digesting them. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” - LUKE 2:10 ESV Go Deeper — Who do you know who really needs to hear the message from the angels this holiday season? Make some time to sit quietly with them and talk it over. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’… The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” - LUKE 2:15,20 Go Deeper — Meditate on the story of the Good Shepherd in John 10, noticing how we can learn to recognize the sound of His voice. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” - LUKE 2:8-9 Go Deeper — Take time today to slow down and just breathe in the presence of God as you examine the story of Jesus’s birth with new eyes and an awakened sense of wonder, just like the shepherds. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

We apologize for the wrong audio file being uploaded. The correct one is now available. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” - LUKE 2:7 Go Deeper — Consider two things you can do to welcome Him this year more fully, one just for you and one with those you love. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” - JOHN 1:3 Go Deeper — This holiday season, try to create positive memories for someone new,such as co-worker you rarely speak to, a neighbor that lives 4-5 houses down from you, a cashier, or a teacher. Try serving someone and making them feel special because God sees them that way. Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.” - LUKE 1:32-33 Go Deeper — If you are physically able, fall on your knees or lie prostrate before your holy King in recognition, worship and praise. Think about what the phrase “His royal majesty” and “His royal highness” mean when we’re talking about Jesus. Read Further — Revering kings is a bit antiquated to many people today. What are the benefits of Fearing the Lord, the King of Kings today? Get prayer or talk to a mentor at TheLife.com/prayer