Nativity
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:7-8
When we think of nativity, Christmas automatically comes to mind. A nativity is simply the place, condition, and circumstances surrounding a birth. The Nativity is the place, conditions, and circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ.
The Place – Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which fulfilled prophecy. What a lowly place for the King to be born. Herod, evil as he was, was used by God as a tool. He was taking a census of the people, requiring them to return to the city of their birth. So Joseph packed up himself and a very pregnant Mary, to go to Bethlehem, thus fulfilling one prophesy of Jesus being born in Bethlehem.
The Conditions – While most of us were born in the sanitary conditions of a hospital, Jesus was born in a stable. If you’ve ever been in a barn, you know that it is anything but sanitary and not the most comfortable place to give birth. I'm sure a stable was not exactly what Mary had in mind.
The Circumstances – There is a lot of prophecy surrounding Christ’s birth. Just being born He fulfilled a number of prophesies. The only reason God came to earth in the form of a man was because of us. If it wasn't for our decisions to lead sinful lives, Jesus would have stayed in the comfort of His heavenly home.
If it wasn't for us, He would not have come.

[image error] If you enjoyed this post today, it is an excerpt from The 25 Days of Christmas Family Devotional. You can grab a copy for your family by clicking the cover to go to Amazon.