God with us

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matthew 1:23

Christmas in a nutshell. God did the impossible, He became a baby to be born on earth just to prepare the way for us to be saved. Jesus was God with us.

God, the same God who made all and sees all put Himself in the most vulnerable and helpless of positions to have a relationship with us.

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love a lot of the things the season brings- Hallmark movies, hot drinks, fuzzy socks, fireplaces, decorations, snow. But I really love the fact that for at least a little bit, the whole world can agree to acknowledge the same thing- that something special happened a little over 2,000 years ago. Regardless of religion, Christmas time is a season all over the world and is the time of the year that collectively we all try to show love a little better and bring more joy.

This year's Christmas looks a little more stressed than most for me. It seems like the whole year has been rushed and everyone is tired but I am reminded that Christmas itself hasn't changed, just some of my traditions of it have.

I read something a few days ago about how the holiday that preceded Christmas, called Saturnalia was a Roman holiday that celebrated all their different false gods, and it wasn't until the emperor Constantine, became a Christian and in 313 A.D., declared that December 25th became " The Feast of the Nativity" which then later got shortened to "Christ-mass" and now we have Christmas.

You see, the birth of Christ prior to December 25th being deemed Christmas was something believers celebrated as part of the story but didn't have a designated day for. How lucky are we? The birth of Christ is something we should still carry in our hearts and see as part of the bigger picture of how God created us and saved us. But, I also think it's really special that we have a day to focus all attention on the birthday of Jesus. We get to have a day- a season- to remind us to slow down and soak in the sheer awe and majesty of the love of God. Unfortunately, most people view the season as busy, rushed, and the time to be a consumer, rather than acknowledge the greatest gift we are ever given- Jesus.

But only God can take something that was so opposite of Him- the day dedicated to a bunch of false gods, and change a man's heart who once worshipped these same gods to get rid of that day and center it around Christ. He is still doing those things, folks. He is still the center of it all. He is still above any other name. He is still the God who is crushing false idols (this could be that Christmas wish-list). He is still the God who was willing and did, come to earth to be completely flesh and completely God just to save His people. He is still God with us.

So, if your Christmas looks a little different this year and that has you bummed, let God transform your day too. Let Him be the God who is with you; in your struggle, and in your rejoicing. Let Him remind you of how simple that first Christmas in the stable was. Let Him remind you that this is not the time of the year to consume, but to give hope and joy.

He is Emmanuel.

I hope you have a healthy, and happy Christmas. I hope you are filled with hope and overwhelming peace and joy- because God loved you so much that He came to prepare the way.