I’m thinking about you. As you dash through the day, I wonder what you will encounter. Disgruntled guests. A mess on the floor. Decorations that pale to Pinterest. For some of you, Christmas is a joy…a time to remember and be thankful. While others will struggle because life is hard…difficult at this very moment.
Unmet Expectations?
I think about the possible expectations you have of God. Are you barely holding on? ‘Tis the season of doubt? Or unexpected troubles?
Have you lost hope because of hardship? Are your prayers less than they should be? Have you forgotten about God during this time, as you scurry and worry about?
Christmas is Joy
I think about you. Yes, I do. And my prayer is that you remember…Emmanuel, God with us. He is with us always and forever and for this reason, we can have inner, soul-filled joy. In sending us Jesus, God is saying, “I haven’t forgotten you for a second.”
Since therefore the children [believers, children of God] share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil
Hebrews 2:14
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood,
God sent us Jesus because He loves us so. Let us be reminded. “For God so loved the world that He sent us [JESUS]” (Jn 3:16). As a child of God, we have been hand-chosen by Him. Adopted. Set Apart. God had our salvation in view when He sent us His Son. Oh…the thought of this makes my heart twitter. Christmas is JOY!
You were chosen by God the Father long ago. He knew you were to become His children. You were set apart for holy living by the Holy Spirit. May you obey Jesus Christ and be made clean by His blood. May you be full of His loving-favor and peace.
“He himself likewise partook of the same things,
Jesus is the face of God. Deity becoming man so that we would know Him. Jesus is fully God, yet fully man. Although this truth is difficult to grasp, it is a basic tenet of our faith and part of Scripture. Jesus is relatable because He suffered as we do here on earth.
“that through death”
God became man so that He could die for our sins. Christmas is the predecessor of Easter. The two walk hand-in-hand. Christmas proclaims, “The RESCUER has come”, whereas Easter says, “It is finished. You are REDEEMED.”
“he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil”
The devil’s greatest weapon against us is our sin. But, Jesus came and put an end to sin by dying on the cross. He paid for our death penalty. The penalty that the devil tries to accuse us of every single day is dead.
What does this all mean?
We don’t have to wallow in our sin! We are guilt-free. There is no shame or condemnation. We have been set free! And we can walk in freedom with our head held high because we have been justified. And the devil can’t steal our salvation away.
So, go ahead, live differently…indebted…grateful…free.
What is stealing your Christmas Joy? What biblical truth to you need to believe today?