Christmas: Love came down

I'll admit that sometimes around Christmas I feel a bit cynical. I've never been one to get excited about Santa clause, excessive shopping, crowds at the mall, or songs about reindeer.

Since I've become a Christian I have really enjoyed holidays like Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas so much more than I ever did before. Now the holidays actually have meaning and now I actually feel like I have something to celebrate!

We do lots of things to make Christmas special, put your kids on Santa’s lap, sing Christmas carols, drink eggnog, open presents. 

While none of these things are bad, if that’s all you’ve got, the holiday can end up feeling a bit hollow and superficial. At least for me anyway.

Some people get upset, saying that Jesus wasn’t actually born in December. And you know what? I don’t care. Does it matter whether or not He was born in a certain month for us to celebrate anyway? I don’t care when He was born; I’m too busy celebrating that HE WAS BORN! 

But the thing that will take your breathe away? 

The real thing to be in awe of?

The real miracle of Christmas?

The real miracle is that God Himself left the comfort and splendor of Heaven for a cold, smelly manger with scraps for clothes and hay for a pillow.

The real miracle is that the god of the universe wrapped Himself in skin and bones.

The real miracle is that the hands that hung the moon and stars became tiny and childlike.  

The real miracle is that the God who commands the winds and waves allowed his creation to rock him to sleep. 

Jesus didn't have to endure cold nights, sore feet, cruel humans, runny noses, and a  limited body. At any moment He could have snapped His fingers and had angels sweep Him back up into paradise. He chose our world so that one day we might live with Him in His. 

He could have chosen to be born in a mansion, and yet He chose a lowly, dirty manger. In every single circumstance Jesus chose the worst option. Jesus chose to become the least of these in every single situation.

Why did He do that?

One word: LOVE.

Only a love like His, that is perfect, unending, unconditional would choose the very worst for Himself so that we might have the very best for ourselves.

And the very best isn’t a nice house, presents under the tree, or job security. The very best is having Him. It’s nice to have all of those things but the very best for us is to have Him, and that’s enough.

Jesus chose the very worst so that not a single person on this earth would be able to look to God and say, “You don’t understand.” Because He does, He’s the only one who does.

 The reason that Christmas is so holy is because LOVE CAME DOWN. Love Himself stooped all the way down to the dirt and dust and became one of us. Love came down to rescue us. Thank God He did.

Not feeling in the holiday mood? Remember that love came down for you and that enough is reason to celebrate. Don't feel like you have to rush around trying to find the perfect tree, the perfect gifts, or grumbling that you don't have the perfect family. Remember that you have been given a perfect savior. 

Jesus came down to save us and now we must respond to that action. Right after the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds the very first thing they did was set out to worship Him. I love the song lyric, “Oh, Come let us adore Him.” The dictionary defines the word, “Adore,” as, "To regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor."

The shepherds had hearts that were full of worship for someone that they had not yet met. As Christians, our ENTIRE lives should be lived in a state of constant adoration.

The greatest news ever told:

Luke 1:8

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”