The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Today is the day. The waiting is over, and the day begins to unfold—whether you’ve been eagerly anticipating it or not. If you had been excitedly waiting for Christmas to arrive because you were looking forward to a wonderful celebration, then you approach this day with joy and wonder. If you had been dreading this day because it serves as a painful reminder that all is not how you had hoped, then your thoughts and mood may be dark and heavy. Maybe it’s a bit of both. Either way, the day is here.
But here is the good news … God shows up. In the midst of your sorrow and your joy, God is present. God spoke creation into existence, and it was Jesus who was and is that word of creation. All life and light are complete in the person of Jesus. Then, out of his love for us, he showed up as one of us. He made the entire universe, and yet he set aside that infinite power and became a baby. As he grew and became a man, Jesus was one of us. All the same emotions, the same physical sensations, the day-to-day tasks of making a life, and yet he was still perfect, still fully God.
What was his mission and his motivation? Why lay aside his power? What was his goal in teaching and preaching? Why was he willing to suffer and die at the hands of those who were supposed to be his own people? Because God loves each and every one of us that much! He wants us to see and know that God loves us. He wants us to always be a part of him. He showed up to rescue us from ourselves, to conquer death, to forgive us, and to show us that his way is the truth that offers an abundant, full life. Not just someday, but today and forever.
The author of life became human through a virgin who was a willing participant in bringing about God’s will for you and me. A helpless, full-of-need, vulnerable baby to be cared for by human parents and the community around them. And like any new parent knows, welcoming a baby is a life-altering transition that involves healing, mental adjustments, redefined daily life, and a new perspective on the world. It creates both challenges and deep, deep love.
Welcoming a child means shifting your identity, schedule, priorities, and worldview as you move from being the center to focusing on a child. With this new focus comes immense joy, new challenges, new routines, and a profound and permanent bond that reshapes your time, relationships, and sense of self. When we welcome Jesus into our lives, like a precious child who enters our hearts, we change in all those same ways. We become a new creation. This is what it means to be born again.
Yes, this baby changes everything! This word made flesh in the person of Jesus, who gave up his life, and through the power of God, was resurrected. On Christmas Day, we celebrate that miracle, that mystery, and the promise of new and everlasting life. Today, we become like Jesus. A child of God, not just in name but in character, with all the wonder and mystery it contains. We experience God’s love and peace intimately and fully so that our lives are complete, no matter what the circumstance. Then the light of truth and love shines out through us and draws others toward God’s love. And what do we need to do to receive this gift?
Believe it and receive it … it’s the only gift that will last forever, and it changes everything!
Reflection:
- What will you do with the gift of God’s love?
- How will you keep fresh the promises of God’s love?
- Who will you share this gift with this year?