I was touched by this beautiful song. The lyrics speak to me. It tells me the Father's heart.
People always talk about soaking into the festive spirit of Christmas. Oh it's about joy and laughter, Chrsitmass tree decorations, merrymaking, gift-exchanging, family and friends gathering, a call for celebration for the year's work.
The 3 Fs of Christmas - Family, Friends and Faith.
No doubt, yes it is the season for us to remember and give thanks to the people whose lives are interwined with yours. Do it. Appreciate those around you. Make gifts for them. Give them a hug. Thank God for them.
But somehow I feel the 3rd F is always neglected or forgotten.
The Christ of Christ-mas is missing. The reason for the season is lost.
Christmas is so much more than just having a good time and giving things away and receving goodies in return.
It's so easy the miss the spirit behind Christmas, which is:
We couldn't get to God, and so Christmas tells the story of how God got to us.
I like the way Eugene Peterson's translation puts it, "God became one of us and moved into the neighbourhood".
Why did Jesus come?
Numerous reasons. To call sinners to repentance. To be King and bear witness. To be the Light of the World etc.
Most importantly, he came to rescue you and me. To close up the gap coz the Law has driven us too far apart from intimacy with God.
This is how much He thinks about you.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." Luke 15:20
Let's ponder... What could God have done otherwise?
God can simply throw down a Book... and say, "Nah! This's my Word. Meditate on it day and night. Obey them and you'll be blessed" The Dos and Don'ts manual is sufficient.
No, He loves us too much to do that. So Jesus was sent to us on a rescue mission.
The Law came via Moses... Grace, love and truth arrived in the form of baby Jesus.
The Law condemns and rejects but Jesus loves and accepts.
Jesus could have descended to Earth flanked by thousands of angels. But he wanted to share in our humanity and demonstrate his humility. A stinky manger and into a carpenter's family was where he was born into. Stripped of all his glory. He descended, put on our "flesh and dwelt among us"(John 1:14).
"Christ himself was like God in everything. He was equal with God. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be held on to. He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God. He obeyed even when that caused his death -- death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8).
The Father's Song. The Father's Love.
Heaven's perfect melody. The Creator sent for me.
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