Today we gather with part of our family to celebrate Christmas. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, we gather with another important part of our family to celebrate with them. We will be eating fabulous food, holding our loved ones near, playing games and thoroughly enjoying a little downtime with our families.
I love the Christmas season. I love the lights. I love the decorations. I love the food. I love the family. I love the fun. I love the frivolity I love the music. I love the whole thing.
If you take away the lights, the laughter, the food, the family, the gifts and the gadgets, what do we have left? Oh, my friend, with all else dissolved, we still have the true meaning of the holiday, we still have the reason for the season.
The whole Christmas season rests on this one central fact. Jesus came to earth as one of us in order to save us.
The son of God became the son of man so that the sons of men might become sons of God!
Wow! Praise God! Christ left the throne room in Heaven, was born of a virgin and fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, many that were proclaimed hundreds of years before. Divinity was robed in humanity and Deity was clothed in dust.
He was sinless. He was spotless. He was pure. He was God in the flesh. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh... I Timothy 3:16
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
Him who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus Christ did not come to be king or lord or healer or ruler or creator. All of those titles were already his own.
He came to be the savior of the world. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... I Timothy 1:15
Perhaps there is someone reading today that will not be surrounded by family and friends on Christmas. Maybe there is a critical person in your life that will be missing on Christmas day. Sickness, sadness, separation, death and despair might be the closest companions you have had all year.
If that is the case, then the fun and frivolity will have lost a lot of its luster for you this year. I am sorry that life has been so cruel. Please know that in the midst of our celebrations, your sorrow is never far from our minds and our families will pray especially for you.
The brilliance of Christmas's past may be faded and the memories may sting more than they soothe this year. All the accessories of Christmas may be more work than they are worth for you. God bless you, friend. God strengthen you, my brother and my sister. When all of the Christmas trappings bruise and batter your weary soul, may this sweet and gentle thought ease around the edges of your mind, God sent His son for you.
Christmas is all about a loving God reaching for helpless and hurting humanity!
There is no hurt in life that would cause Him to remove His presence. There is no pain so deep, that He will forsake you. The babe that was born in the manger was the man that gave Himself for you, suffered for you and even now is able to be touched with the feelings of your infirmities.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
May God bless every one of you this Christmas. May God restore you, heal you, empower you, comfort you, give His peace unto you and walk with you every step of the way. You are loved and you are not alone, my friend.
Davy
