Dave’s Monday Blast – December 21, 2015
Each year around 172,000 babies are born on Christmas Day in the United States (so I have read – don’t fact check me). Regardless of the number, each is a reminder of the central fact of Christmas: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given.” But unlike every other child ever born, “the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Although I am encouraged by the wonderful stories of generosity I read about during this time of the year, I none-the-less find it impossible to block out the endless stream of evil deeds that dominate the news. We are exposed to some new and disturbing revelation every day. In light of this truth…I ask this simple rhetorical question, “how desperately do we need His wonderful counsel, omnipotent power, unchanging love, and divine peace today? The good news is that THE CHILD who was born that first Christmas is more powerful than our most powerful enemy. He loves us despite our worst failures. He will forgive our worst sins and heal our deepest hurts. As the hymn says, Jesus offers us “grace that is greater than all our sin.”
Jim Denison of the Denison Forum says it this way, “Colossians 1:16 teaches that by Jesus ‘all things were created.’ Scientists currently measure the diameter of the observable universe at 93 billion light-years in length, but our Creator measures all of that with the palm of his hand (Isaiah 40:12)! Then Jesus focused all of his divinity and omnipotence into a fetus and was born as a tiny baby on Christmas day.” G.K Chesterton was right: “The Child that played with the moon and sun is playing with a little hay.”
Denison goes on to comment, “If Jesus would be born in a cow stall and laid in a feed trough, he’ll go anywhere. If he would touch a leprous body and heal a crazed demoniac, he’ll help anyone. So don’t let our fallen world discourage you.” I love that reminder, especially during this time of the year. Pastor Tim Keller reminds us that “Christ literally walked in our shoes. He knows your every fear, pain and challenge today. He offers grace for your every need.” (Hebrews 4:15).
I think Max Lucado was right: “God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” I think that comment particularly poignant as I consider Christ’s journey. When we INTENTIONALLY focus on the arrival and find joy in the journey, our faith is our greatest witness to a despairing, fearful, struggling world. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: “The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” If you choose to stand with Jesus today, you’ll never stand alone.
