Tag: Christmas

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Meaningful Christmas

We have marked another December 25th. Regardless of our circumstances, the arrival of Jesus on earth inspires in Christians awe and joy. It certainly did so in the shepherds who witnessed him as a newborn (Luke 2:8-18). And His birth is full of meaning for us. The true light that enlightens every human being was coming into the world (John 1:9). Also, the promised King had arrived to establish His long-awaited Kingdom (Matthew 4:17,23).

The events around his birth, furthermore, have set in place parts of the foundation of our faith. First, His perfect humanity: the Son of God, an equal member of the Holy Trinity, set aside the privileges of divine life to become fully human—Emmanuel, God with us (Philippians 2:5-8). And second: the virgin birth of Jesus accomplished by the operation of the Holy Spirit in Mary his mother (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38). The creeds cite these as basic tenets. We cannot consider ourselves Christians unless we believe these truths.

The Life that began with Jesus’s birth culminated in his death, resurrection and ascension. From that Life many blessings flow. We all recognize that he delivered us from our sins and re-established our relationship with the Father. In addition, incredibly, He came to live in us. Just as the Spirit of God formed His human life within Mary, so the Holy Spirit that was poured out in the Day of Pentecost deposits Him—with a share of His divine life—in our hearts. This is the life of the New Birth. God brings us into His family as newborn infants who are, nevertheless, sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ. 

This Christmas gave me another opportunity to reflect on the miraculous birth of my Lord Jesus Christ. I also feel profoundly grateful for another miracle: the second birth that He has bestowed on all who have received Him (John 1:12), even me. This birth opens the way for the work of transformation, which is our journey of spiritual maturation. “See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).

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The Gift of Christmas

For us this is the darkest time of year. Late sunrises, early sunsets and frequent dense cloud cover add to the personal challenges we face. All of these make us especially appreciative of the encouragement we receive by remembering our Lord’s birth. All around us people celebrate by exchanging gifts, but the gift that God gave us we can never match nor repay.

“If you knew the gift of God,” Jesus said to the woman at Jacob’s well, “you would ask of him, and he would give you the water of life.” Our Lord is Himself the Gift and in Him we receive other gifts.

Consider also what the apostle Peter has to say in the beginning of his second letter. Here is an excerpt: “His [God’s] divine power has given to us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires…. Therefore, my brothers [and sisters], be all the more eager to make your calling and elections sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Everything we need, God has provided for us in His beloved Son, culminating in our opportunity to enter His eternal Kingdom.

So, we are most grateful that Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, has come to enlighten our darkest days. We draw upon His life again and again. We depend on the very great and precious promise that our lives will become conformed to His. He sustains our hope through the challenges we face as we experience transformation.

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