I used to turn my nose up at the little plastic nativity scenes you’d see in people’s yards this time of year.

They seemed too cheap.

Plastic.

Usually one or more of the wise men toppled over, blown down in the wind.

Messy.

Often tucked between some giant blown up snowman or half deflated teddy bear. Bent candy canes and crookedly strung lights.

Amongst the disorder and cheap tapestry of our human celebrations.

Nothing worthy of God’s own son, the Creator of the universe.

Certainly not worthy the King of the World.

Then I remembered something.

Immanuel.

God with us.

“In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all…” Romans‬ ‭8:3 (The Message)

So now when I see those plastic manger scenes tucked in between all the other seasonal clutter strewn about our yards, I remember that’s where Jesus can be found because that’s where I am, in the disordered mess, he came to find me there. He came to be with me in this. He came to be with you. In all those places we’d least expect, he is coming and will come again.

He is God with us.

So as the little lights of those plastic nativities glow and with every one of them you see, remember “God with us” means he can still be found in the most unlikely of places. Just like the night he was born. Ordinary and extraordinary colliding together. Changing everything. And if you think on that thought long enough, we begin to catch a glimpse of God’s heart for us. His deep love. And his love for you will change everything.