What Christmas is about

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Another Christmas has come, and will soon be gone.  Another season of feasting and celebrating with family and friends.  Another day of the eager and giddy ripping open of presents from Santa and from loved ones.

Another season to manically rush through the busyness of celebration.

Another season to wonder "did I get the perfect gift?"

Another season to pause.  

And in that pause, I hope that we reflect on the reason that we're celebrating this day in the first place.  It's easy to get lost in our culture, our hustle, and all of the expectations of the season that one day about 2010 years ago, give or take... something happened in a marginalized part of the world, to the most unlikely cast of characters, in a very inconvienent set of circumstances... that changed the course of history and if we fully embrace the promise that comes with the coming of Christmas, the course of our lives.  

On that day, a baby was born.  That baby was Christ the Lord.  Who was God, and has been God since before the world was created.  He gave up the comfort of Heaven and the constant worship of angels to live on earth and be one of us.  He came to show us what it was like to live in fellowship with God the Father, and he came to live the life that we couldn't live... the life that God requires of us that we couldn't live.  He came to die, so that He could give us what we couldn't get on our own... forgiveness for the life that we live that tells the all-glorious God "I don't need you and I don't want you," and His perfect righteousness so that we can actually have what Adam had in the Garden before he touched the fruit.... a love relationship with God.  

This changed everything.  

Instead of relating to God and each other by a set of rules, we now are adopted as Sons and Daughters and live in a relationship based on undeserved grace.

Instead of living in fear we live in love.

In place of our attempts to reach for God, God reached out for us like the one lost coin, like the one lost sheep, and like the one lost son.  

He has connected us not only to Him, but also to each other.  He has given us a capacity for intimacy that we haven't known until now.  

He has demonstrated His love for us and gave it to us liberally.  All He asks is that we accept it and give Him the lives we couldn't live, and accept from Him the true life that we can't live... it's the life that HE lived... the life that is truly life.  

It all started at a manager.  It all started with shepherds.  It all started with a young virgin.  

And we now bask, as recipients of this great gift, celebrating the entrance of God's own Son in the greatest rescue mission and greatest love story the world has ever known... and this one is one that we ourselves get to live in if we say "I do" to the God that comes to pursue us with His love, kindness, and grace.  He did it not because we needed it... but because He wanted to.  Because He loves us.

And regardless of what Santa brought you this year... you have received the perfect gift :-)

Merry Christmas! 

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