The Central Moment

A new year always reminds us of two seeming contradictions -- the speed with which time seems to fly and yet how much can happen in just one year. Time is a precious, God-given currency that, like money, can be invested, managed, or squandered. May the Lord bless our days as we live them in light of his eternal nature!

We know little about Jesus’ first 30 years of life except for an event when he was 12 years old. Here we encounter Jesus as a young man but already marked with a sense of purpose and calling. So may it be for us! In the words of a friend, God is looking for people who know what they are living for, live it 100%, and change their surroundings rather than yielding to them.

As we begin to look ahead into a new year, let’s focus on the end of the Christmas story and make it a Christ-like challenge for our own lives -- to keep growing, to become stronger and wiser, and to walk under the grace-filled favor of God.

This day after Christmas reminds us of that part of the Christmas story that did not actually take place on Christmas day, but probably as much as two years later. We traditionally call them ‘wise men’ and, indeed, wise men still seek him. But more accurately they were magi from the east who saw a star and, in that star, saw the hope of a Savior King. 

Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate the event that set in motion the greatest story ever told. It is the story of a God who loved us enough to not leave us alone or without hope. The Apostle John caught it exactly: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

The Word became flesh. This is what we celebrate this Christmas weekend and this is why we tremble in worship before him. God has come. Jesus has been born. Life and light have shone -- and we can be saved!

Jesus was born in Bethlehem to die on a cross in Jerusalem in order save us from sin, judgment and hopelessness. He took on a body to become a redeeming sacrifice for us. The God who created us has acted to rescue us. This is redemption!

God’s providence in our lives points to his graciousness, his sovereignty, and his care for us. It was in the providence of God that Jesus was born at just the right time and by the intentional plan of God. May his providence cover our lives during this busy Christmas season!

God’s protection over our lives is one of the great blessings of the Christian life. He gives his angels charge over us, he guides us to places of safety as he did with Mary and Joseph, and he secures our futures with his promises.

One of the greatest promises in Scripture is embodied in the Christmas name given to Jesus -- “I will be with you.” Immanuel means that God has not abandoned us, rejected us, or forgotten us. No, he is “God with us!”

The story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reminds us that Christmas represents hope. Life isn’t always ideal, no matter how much we long for it to be during this season, but if we are receptive to moments of encouragement, and looking for moments of gratitude, we’ll remember that God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.

True joy doesn’t come from gifts, or even from giving. True joy comes from acknowledging the life-changing power of Jesus Christ in your heart. So don’t misplace the message of Christmas this year. Remember, He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and prince of peace.

Most of us have heard the songs and lyrics of the Christmas season for decades… enough that we can listen or even sing them without much thought to the story being told. But don’t let the story of Jesus’ birth become routine. Believe it in your heart, and shout it from the mountain.

The joy of Christmas isn’t based on gift giving, or even the excitement of earthly traditions. It is found in the birth of Jesus who came to bring abundant life to those who believe in him, and that joy transcends even the busyness and stress of this “joyful” holiday season.

Jesus birth and eventual death paved the way for our death, and re-birth. His willingness to live within the confines of humanity gives us the option to die to ourselves and be born again in his grace and forgiveness. But that’s a gift we all must choose to accept.

For many, Christmas isn’t always “the most wonderful time of the year”. Grief and loss can actually make it one of the most difficult—but you are not alone this Christmas. You don’t have to pretend everything is okay, but you shouldn’t feel hopeless either. God sees you, and he cares.

As John described, Jesus came into the world as the true light. And we know that his light can come into our own lives and illuminate whatever darkness and difficulty we may face. But as people who carry his light, what is our responsibility to those around us?

In addition to describing Jesus as “the word”, John described him as the true light that came into the world, and in that description, we see that his very nature overpowers and overcomes the overwhelming darkness in the world. That includes whatever you may be facing even today.

Matthew, Luke, and John all recount the birth of Jesus, but they do it in different ways. John’s account emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus in more theological terms than some of the other gospel writers. Today, we focus on John’s description of Jesus as the Word that became flesh.

The concept of Advent is an important piece of preparing our hearts for the second coming of our Savior and King. Advent is not a replacement for Christmas. Rather, it’s an anticipation that gives a more full picture, and provides a counterbalance to the secularization of Christmas in Western culture.

We were not made to live in isolation. Every human being needs to both love and be loved. This is from our creator God, who Himself is love. Created in his image he calls us to be secured, transformed, and filled with the deeply profound love that he has for us.

Life is more than functional biological existence. It is more than eating, sleeping and breathing. It is living in connection and communion with our Creator, the author of life. Lasting and sure hope is what Jesus came to give us and what can be found in him.

Joy is the flavor of life. It takes our human experiences from black and white and puts them in living color. Joy energizes life and strengthens our hearts. On the other hand, depression and despondency drain life of its vitality. That is why Jesus offers us his joy!

It’s been astutely observed that where there is no hope for the future there is no power for the present. Hope is the fuel of life, the energizing reason to keep going. But where can hope be found without the risk of being let down and disappointed if it doesn’t work out?  Let’s start with the God of hope!

Christians are sometimes mocked for believing in God because they need a ‘crutch’ to get through life, as if they were too weak and insecure to stand on their own feet. If so, those who mock ought to practice what they preach -- as if possessing a human adequacy that can control the uncontrollable, knowing everything, and needing no one.