Sometimes I think we’ve become far too used to Christmas. Of course, it sneaks up on us every year, and most of us spend the month playing catch up. But I think we’ve become too accustomed to Christmas……we don’t stop and take in the awe of what really happened.
God, the Creator of everything, the Sustainer of everything, the One who literally makes the world go round, humbled Himself enough to come hang out with His creation. In fact, He gave up His deity to become like us. As much as I try to act as if all people are exactly the same, the truth is that there are some people I wouldn’t want to be like, nor would I want to be around for very long. I always think of these people at Christmas. I imagine myself as those people, because I’m sure that’s a bit like what Jesus must have done when He came to be like ME, when He came to spend time with ME.
God WITH us, Emmanuel, gave up everything to show us the way to live. He had already given us a list of rules and things to do and not do. But we couldn’t follow those rules. Instead of writing us off (which I would have done if I were in His place), He came to SHOW us exactly what we needed to do.
But He didn’t just come to show us HOW to live. No, He came to GIVE us life. Because without Him, we’re not actually living, we’re just existing. And that wasn’t what He created us to do. He created us to LIVE, and to live abundant and full lives.
God loved us enough to give up everything, including His only Son, so that He could have a relationship with us. I love my friends, but I can’t imagine giving up that much to continue my relationship with them.
This Christmas, take some time to awe and revel in the fact that God came to be with us. That Jesus loves us enough to give His life for us. That He was born to die for us. That He did all of that willingly.
Michelle Suarez 