Christmas "With God"
“… and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” - (Matthew 1:23)
“And the word became flesh and lived among us.” - (John 1:14)
What is this story? This thought that God gave up his heavenly throne, put on skin and came down to live with the human family?
Jesus was born as a child. He was a teenager. He learned a craft and served his community. He was also a well respected Rabbi – a teacher.
“Incarnation” is the word theologians use to describe God becoming human and living among us.
What difference does the incarnation make to you? Why is this important? Why is Christmas important?
Most of us don’t get it. We haven’t been looking for a God who becomes human and lives an ordinary life. Most of us would rather become like God (the first temptation – Genesis 3:5). Most of us would rather have the power and celebrity of God than our common lives.
But God chose something way different. God chose to come into our every day common lives and infuse our lives with something quite extraordinary.
When sin and evil were having its way with this world, God chose to bring his love and forgiveness into our lives.
What difference does this make? First of all, it means God didn’t give up on us.
When we, in our power, were unable to turn around, God came into our world and spoke a word of peace.
What difference does his coming make? His coming means that we have a human figure who is our model. One who shows us a new way to live.
What difference does it make? This Jesus, God walking among us, experiences the joys and sufferings of this world. When we cry out to God, he fully understands our need.
What difference does it make? By coming to us, God has invited us to live a “with-God life”. We are invited to follow Jesus. He promises to walk with us. In the with-God life, we no longer live by fear and submit to the powers of this world. Instead we live with joy and find the power to love.
During this Advent season, we will explore and hear the invitation to the “With-God life.” Come and journey with your church family as we move to the manger. Invite God to walk with you.
Faithfully,
Pastor Leon
P.S. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Thanksgiving Dinner such a great event. Especially thanks to our youth who worked on set-up, serving, and clean-up; to Greg Short our cook and Carol Davenport, who was emcee for the program.