.

This is not the first time they have lost baby Jesus. Some years back it was taken but was returned when the police were given a tip. In that case it was missing only a day. According to the authorities they have no leads this time.

I am not sure what value a life size figure of baby Jesus has out on the open market. But City Official Steve Neal said, “If something happens to one of the figures, I don’t know where I would go to get a new one.” That makes him pretty valuable to the city of Cheviot.

You may not be too concerned about what the value is but you might be asking what good is a baby Jesus outside the manger. For that question I have one answer; priceless.

Yes indeed there is a Jesus missing. He is missing in our workplace, He is missing in our homes, he is missing where we play and he is even missing in some churches.

Much of the world in which we live in never takes Jesus out of the stable in Bethlehem long enough to apply Him to their daily lives. A baby in a manger is nice and safe. But take Him out and let Him challenge you to not hate your neighbor or lust after the woman next store and that is a whole other story.

The world has seen enough of baby Jesus in the manger but nowhere evident in our daily lives. Though the city of Cheviot may be concerned about a missing figure in a manger scene we should be much more concerned about a missing Christ in the world in which we live.

Might I add that this missing Christ is not the responsibility of the world that does not know Jesus but to the Christian world that does. They need to see that He is real to us. A baby in a manger might be safe but he is totally useless if we do not take Him with us all year long.

Though this all may sound very negative let me spin it back around and say that it is very exciting to take the baby Jesus out of the manger and apply Christ in your everyday life. Though he challenges you to live right He also gives you great opportunity to experience things you would have never dreamed of if we will simply listen to His leading. Being a Christian is not and was never meant to be a boring never take a chance life. Faith as a matter of fact is the direct opposite. It is anything but boring.

Soon Cheviot will pack away all the characters in their manger scene. I hope when they do they have found their baby Jesus. Soon we will pack away our Christmas season and when we do I hope that we will leave Jesus out to be adored all season long.

Missing in the manger but found living in our lives; all year long.

Scripture: Matthew 10: 5-8, “Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.”

Prayer: Dear Father, remind us each and every day of the new year that you are important. That you matter not only to us but to the world around us. Guide us to follow you all year long, not just at Christmas. As we celebrate the babe in the manger help us to be reminded of the victory of the cross. In Christ Name, Amen.