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He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. – Colossians 1:15

People have all kinds of ideas in their heads about God, and these ideas, right or wrong, shape how we view the world and influence how we live in it. When Jesus came to live in this world with us, He made it possible for us to know what God is really like. He displayed God’s character, heart, authority, holiness, righteous anger and love for all to see. In looking at Jesus, what we see is… Forgiveness for the repentant. Compassion for the broken. Rebuke for the self-righteous. Freedom for the enslaved. Peace for the fearful. Humiliation for the proud. Exaltation for the lowly. Hope for the hurting. Guidance for the confused. Strength for the weak. Authority for the rebellious. Supply for the needy. Joy for the downtrodden. Grace for the unable. Love. For. Everyone.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. – Matthew 1:21

We try to ignore it. We try to downplay it. We try to run from it. We try to overcome it. But no matter what we do, cannot change reality: This world is undeniably broken. Our world is the inevitable ruin that comes when every person does what is right in his or her own eyes and chooses to do what feels good over what God says is good. We need a Hero to save the day. We need a Liberator to set us free. We need a Healer to make us whole. We need a Satisfier to make us content. We need a Ruler to reign over us for good. We need a Savior to save us from our sins. We. Need. Jesus. He came to make us right with God, He is with us so we can make it through this world, and He is returning to make all things as they should be.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

How freeing it is to embrace with confidence that God has allowed some things into our lives and others things to be missing from them for a reason that is good. Even if we have no idea what that reason is. Or how it can possibly be for good. For those who are trusting in Jesus, God is always doing much more in us, for us, around us, and through us than we are aware of. All we see is the show, but He is working behind the scenes. We don’t have to make sense out of everything that is going on or that we are going through; but we do need to trust that God is tirelessly at work in ways that would make sense if we knew all that He knows. And when we can’t see it with our eyes, let us believe it in our hearts. That’s what faith is for.

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. – John 6:39-40

From heaven to earth. From a manger to a cross. From suffering to victory. Christmas begins an epic story of just how far Jesus would travel, and just how hard His journey would be, to bring us back into a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus came from heaven to earth to make a way for sinners like you and me to go from earth to heaven. His story births our stories where every step is assured because of His willingness and faithfulness to do the Father’s will: namely, to keep us until the end of this life and raise us up at the beginning of the next. Christmas reminds us Who Jesus is, why He came, and where He is taking those who trust Him. Destination: Heaven. He will not lose us on the way. He will not let us lose our way.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. – Genesis 3:15

Christmas is a declaration of war on everything that separates us from God and the life with Him that we were meant to enjoy now and forever. God sent Jesus to disarm and defeat sin, Satan and death so we can be forgiven and freed. Then, He equips us with the armor of God, the Word of God and the Spirit of God to empower us as we fight our battles against temptation, secure in the truth that Jesus has already secured our victory. For those of us who trust Him… Sin no longer separates us from God! Sin no longer has power over us! And until Jesus comes again to give us final deliverance from it, we expect, endure, hate, expose, resist and overcome evil, but we do not give in, give up or give out in our fight against it.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. – 1 Peter 3:15

Every belief, action, fact, event, spoken word, attitude, and outcome has one. There is a reason for all things. Some are known. Some are unknown. But there is a basis, cause, explanation or motive for why things are what they are. Christmastime and Christianity are based on this one: Jesus is the reason for the season and the reason for our hope. Not favorable conditions. Not an optimistic outlook. Not our resources or connections. Simply Jesus. Let us revere Him in our hearts! Here is our hope: Jesus came to liberate us from sin and its deadly consequences, and to lead us to life and its eternal pleasures. We can know that good things are in our future because of the good news of Jesus.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

When Jesus took on flesh to dwell among us, He didn’t insulate Himself from the ugliness, brokenness and sinfulness of this world. Life for Jesus on earth was filled with the same things we deal with: difficult people, difficult circumstances, difficult tasks and difficult experiences. What He did was suffer with us through His birth and life, and secure for us deliverance from suffering through His death and resurrection. Take heart today and trust in the One who understands, cares and helps you live with hope-filled endurance no matter what you come up against until He puts an eternal end to all your suffering. He doesn’t just know what you are going through. He didn’t just go through it too. He went through it for you.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. – Matthew 2:11

What does Jesus want for Christmas? It’s not our begrudging submission, reluctant giving, half-hearted worship, indifferent service, or lukewarm affection. These may be costly gifts, but they do not shine, and they are not sweet-smelling to our King. What Jesus wants for Christmas is for us to get what we want for Christmas: real and full and lasting joy. That comes from Him, and He is honored in us when we are happy in Him. That’s what the heart of worship is … a heart that values Jesus above everything else so that it can’t be fully happy with anything else. Therefore, let us seek Him more than all other things, for He will satisfy us more than all other things. Jesus doesn’t just want our treasure; He wants to be our treasure.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. – Philippians 3:7,8

To receive the gift of God’s Son is to also get countless blessings and benefits from being in a relationship with Him. But let’s be clear about one thing: if you want what Jesus can do for your life but don’t want Jesus in your life, you won’t receive Him or His blessings. Listen… He’s not just useful, He’s beautiful. He’s not just resourceful, He’s delightful. He’s not just helpful, He’s wonderful. Don’t you see? Jesus doesn’t just give us gifts; He is the gift. Being together with Him is the most precious Gift He gives to us. And the more time we spend in His presence, the more beautiful, delightful and wonderful He gets to us.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

Christmas is for stuck people. People who are stuck in the past with its haunting reminders of what they have done or what others have done to them. People who are stuck in the present with an endless cycle of never-quite-satisfied, almost-there searching. People who are stuck in fear of the future with its paralyzing grip that prevents them from doing meaningful things. Here is good news for us all: Jesus came to free stuck people like you and me. He came to free us from sin and its devasting effects by stripping it of its power so that we can live under grace. How do we move forward from our stuck position? We take a step of faith to follow Jesus today.