“11 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. 12 Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
“13 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 14 This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.” The Message
As we close in on the day we’ve chosen to celebrate His birth, let’s take time to ponder the event. He had plans for us from the beginning, plans for glorious living working out in everyone. There’s a long history of humans running to and running away from God, yet He hasn’t run from us. He came to us to change our relationship, to point out the fallacy of us trying to be good enough to get to heaven on our own merits. The bible is full of stories of the best, most holy people succumbing to the allure of the world. We have the wisest man in the world declare “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 12:8, meaning that the things of the world are just that, things of this world. We don’t take them with, so why do we spend our lives focusing in on them? Instead, focus on God, fear Him in awe and adoration for the incredible power He is.
Yet, we succumb.
Christ was laid in a slimy, slobber covered manger when he was born because there wasn’t enough room for him. Sounds like the world today. He came to allow us to separate from the ways of the world, to give us a chance to do what we can’t do ourselves – be good enough for God. He came as food, sustenance, for the world, to offer us fulfillment the world can’t offer. It’s a gift, gracefully given, though un-merited, if we choose to accept it. It’s in Christ we find out who we are, not the world. Why is it so hard to accept His nourishment?
Celebrate His birth and all it means for us. Really, it’s freaking huge, beautiful, glorious, amazing, wonderful, awesome, and completely un-merited. Celebrate the greatest gift of all – Christ.