Christmas - That We Might Have Life预览

DAY 1, DEVOTION 1

Lessons from Baby Jesus

Christmas is a time of vision, a time to consider the landscape of human life, what it means, and why it’s valuable. The mental image of Christmas is the nativity, the crude circumstances that surrounded the moment when God reinforced the dignity of humanity by clothing Himself as a human. But He did not stop there. For the joy set before Him, He invaded the dungeon of our sin-dimmed world with the light of His presence, to transfer us into His kingdom of light. He took on the life of a man that He might lay it down for us all, underscoring the value He places on each one of us.

If sinless Jesus, God in the flesh, is invaluable, what does it say of the value He places on us if He exchanged His life for ours, becoming sin that He might destroy death? It is His resurrection that has the last, everlasting word: Christmas. The beginning of the end of sin and death.

Christmas helps us see who God is and who we are. Christmas brings into focus the only two things that are sacred in this world—God and people. Christmas is about life. The author of life. Your life. My life. And the life of the world.

Baby Jesus came from heaven to earth to reflect what kind of person populates God’s Kingdom—a baby. Or said differently… helpless humans in need of a redeemer.

Baby Jesus is the revelation that the all-powerful God of the universe is big enough to be humble.

Baby Jesus is the certainty that the vast storehouses of heaven were emptied for that which God treasures most—human beings.

Baby Jesus is the encouragement that trial and hardship are not meant to be avoided but joyfully endured for the sake of others.

Baby Jesus is the reminder that real faithfulness is always tangible.

Baby Jesus was born to defeat sin and its consequence, death.

Baby Jesus came to demonstrate His victory over death by rising from the grave.

Baby Jesus was born to commission soldier souls to liberate those oppressed by sin and to protect others oppressed by sinners.

Baby Jesus was destined to say, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (Mark 10:14-15).

Baby Jesus was born to reveal the litmus test of a true follower of God: “Whoever receives one child like this in my name receives Me, and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me” (Mark 9:37).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.” It is no coincidence that the God of the universe revealed Himself in the form of a baby. He did not have to, but He did.

Like God, we too must be open to loving and redeeming more human beings no matter what their age, socio-economic status, who their mother and father are, their health prognosis, their gender, or their perceived quality of life. For the world to reject a child, or to even consider rejecting a child, reveals a self-indulgent way of life.

Baby Jesus was born so that we all, with one voice, would rejoice in the hope that life brings. In God, there is always room for one more light in this dark and lowly manger world.

Questions for Reflection

Jesus came to earth as a baby. Why is that important?

What does it mean that Jesus is the “Light of the World” and that we are to be a reflection of that Light?

What message would God have you tell others about baby Jesus?

Father God,

Thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus, and bringing Him into this world as a baby. Teach us to be like a child, truly dependent on You, Father, always trusting in Your Love for us. We are thankful Jesus came to give us Victory over death. We need You, God, our Redeemer.

Amen.