The Child Born To Us
Lord . . . Savior . . . Redeemer . . . Friend, these are the titles given to the Christ, the Son of the living God. He was born to accomplish the promises made to Abraham inheriting the throne of His father David. The earth He walked was made by His hands, the tree He hung on grew by His power, and the men who crucified Him given breath by His permission. Christ the King entered this world by the miracle of the virgin birth. In His life and death, we see the perfect humility of His spotless character. Our God truly became man and sacrificed Himself for us. Never laying down His divinity, yet He knows everything we suffer in this life only in Him was no sin. The mystery of Christmas is the wonder of the incarnation.
It is the mind-blowing reality that the divine Son of God cried as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Mary had to nurse Him, keep Him warm, and tend to the child’s every need. In her hands, she held God in the flesh. Christ, the Sustainer of all things, allowed Himself to receive His physical necessities from her. These are the glories we celebrate this season and all the year. Jesus lived the perfect life so that we as sinners might be counted righteous. He died to accomplish the sufficient sacrifice that the sins of His people should be atoned for to the uttermost. Our hearts are filled with His beauty at Christmas. We stand in awe that this glorious One who is truly God would enter our world, bear our sins, and take the cup of God’s wrath for us.
A Continued Work
Even as we behold all of these grand works of our Lord, we must not forget to see His hand all around us each day. The story of the Christ-child is not just that He was born of a virgin, lived perfectly for God’s glory, and then died. No, praise God, the account of our Lord does not end on that point! Christ rose from the dead ascending to the Father’s right hand where He is building His kingdom now and forevermore. He came to make all things new and even to this very day He is making souls new by the power of the Gospel message. We are the firstfruits of the new creation that is going forth into the world which He shall one day return to consummate (2 Corinthians 5:17, James 1:18). This means at Christmas I am reminded to not only look to the past as I celebrate the birth of Christ, I must look to the present and behold the glorious work He is doing even now. For this child was born to be raised to a throne where He reigns right now as the Sovereign over heaven and earth!
I see the work of my Lord in the soul redeemed and made whole saved from their sin. The drug addict turns from their ways, a broken home is mended, a formerly lazy man takes up the mantle of working to provide, and a young child sees their sin and need of the Savior. Churches disciple saints as they grow. A lady who never understood God’s Word begins to have her eyes opened. The love of the bride of Christ for each other grows as they reach out with kindness and truth to their community. Praises sound forth as they carol in the streets. You can smell the deliciousness when they gather to partake in fellowship to the glory of the Lord remembering His birth. Christ is still at work today. By the power of His Spirit, He is making things new one soul at a time. Through His sufficient Word, He is watering His saints growing them to more holiness as they live to see His new mercies every day.
Eyes To See
This Christmas as we gather to feast with friends and family, may the Lord give us eyes to see the work of the Christ-child around us. Let us remember and tell the story, His story, of how God became man so that we might live forevermore. May we also see this work of this child born to us every day as He reigns on the throne. Look at your family this Christmas and see that He is the One who has given them life to bring them all to another year around the table. Think about your friends, community, and church to see the power of what He is accomplishing each day.
Perhaps you can see young love blossoming at one end of the table as a couple is being knit together by His hand for life. Over at the other corner is a love that has endured to His glory for decades each passing moment bringing them closer to their reward and nearer to each other’s hearts. There in the middle is the young man whose life was recently turned around as he saw the need to grow in the faith. Maybe across from him is the young lady still needing to mature for whom you pray. The food on the table, a feast to enjoy is a gift of provision from His hand which controls all things. Christians in the community giving to those who cannot afford such a meal reflect the kindness of our Lord. All in all here we are at this wonderful season where we remember the birth of Jesus Christ and see the beauty of His work every moment of our lives!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6
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