Welcome to Day 6 of my 40-day devotional. We have already read this passage for today, but let’s look at it from a different perspective. Our main passage this morning is Luke 2:1-7.

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930-) became the first humans ever to land on the moon. About six-and-a-half hours later, Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Armstrong put his left foot on the rocky Moon. It was the first human footprint on the moon. As he took his first step, Armstrong famously said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Having taken television cameras with them, people all over the world watched this happen. Millions of people gathered around their television sets to watch the moon landing.

The first step of our Savior’s journey to the cross was more subtle. He came as a baby to a young Jewish girl named Mary. He was born to a family far from home, and not even in an inn since there was no room for them. He was not laid in a crib, but an animal’s feeding trough was used for His bed.

Mounds of hay encircled the exhausted Mary. The only human witnesses were jubilant shepherds who had been told where to find the Messiah by the angelic hosts. The snorts and shuffles of barnyard animals mingled with the sounds of a newborn baby’s cries.

No one on earth knew it then, but God himself had come into the world. His purpose was to redeem you, to defeat sin, and overcome Satan for you. The little baby lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths was born for you. Your fears and failures, sins and sorrows moved God to take this first step toward your salvation.

In Mark 1:14-20, we find an example of how to respond to God’s first steps. Jesus came saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Then we encounter four fishermen: Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus called these four men and they left everything behind to follow Him. Jesus is making the same appeal to you. Repent, believe, and follow Him. Respond to His first steps by following in His steps.

Today read Mark 1:14-20 on your own. As you pray, thank God for taking the first step for you.

Thank you for joining me today. I’d love to get your thoughts or responses to the devo, prayer requests, or questions. Send me a voice message and I will respond on my blog and podcast. This blog post is also available on my podcast. Come back tomorrow for Day 7.