Ho! Ho! Ho!
Ever feel not so merry at Christmas time? Christmas can be a challenge for many. The cards and movies all seem to point toward happy endings – restored families, perfect relationships, healed family members, the overflowing gifts around a tree. Everything seems to work out with the Christmas miracle at the end.
But that is not always our reality. Situations don’t always conclude in 30 minutes or less. Life continues throughout the holiday. And life is just messy. It is no different now than it was in Jesus’ day: “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. (Jn. 16:33)
For Mary & Joseph it wasn’t so perfect that Christmas Eve. Traveling a long distance. Pregnant and beginning labor. No reservations. No hotel. Only a stable and a manger. Yet that is how God chose for His Son to come into this world. Not to a perfect situation. But in the most humble way, He came. Immanuel – God with us!
Christmas represents Christ coming and dwelling among us. He didn’t come to take us out of the world. He came to dwell with us. He came to dwell in us. He came so we could come to Him. Christ in us – the Hope of Glory!
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you- the sure mercies of David.” Is. 55:1-3
Come! Everyone who thirsts. Come! Everyone who is hungry. Come! Everyone who needs wisdom. Come! Everyone who needs mercy.
Now is the time to seek the Lord. Now is the time for us to come to Him and see Him for Who He really is. Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the hope for all situations. He is Lord & King. He is the Savior of the world. He is our deliverer, our healer, our protector, our life, our bread, our everything. He is the One who overcomes the world!
Lord Jesus – we come to You. Come dwell with us. Come be with us. Incline our ears to hear Your voice. We long for You, Jesus. Reveal Yourself to us this Christmas season.
