Luke 2:6-7

Luke 2:6-7 - 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 clothes and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

There are many of us who feel limited by the situations we are born into. If we start out bad in life we feel that we can only go so far before our past holds us back. I have known many people that have let their childhood hold them back from truly living.

If this is you, take a look at Jesus birth. He was born far away from home. There was no hospital or birthing center. They did not even have a proper room. All that was left was a stable. And to top it all off He didn't even have a bed to lie in, there was only a manger, which is what animals eat out of.

At Christmas time we paint a glorious picture of this, but in reality it was dirty, dark, smelly and probably over-crowded. The inn was full, so that means all of those people’s animals were in this stable.

Needless to say, it was a mess and not the place two people would want to be when their child came into the world, but that was Jesus birth. Then, much of His childhood they were on the run or in hiding. To say the least it was not a great beginning for the Son of God.

Jesus rose above all that, though, and lived the life God had laid out for Him. As we look through the scripture we see a lot of other people who had messed up childhoods and pasts, but they did not let it hold them back.

It is important to not dwell on your past. Sure it happened. It sucked. Now move on. Your past has nothing to do with who you will be. Your decisions today will affect who you will be tomorrow.