So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. *(John 1:14)
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
This Christmas there has been a resounding message that has been echoed not only in my own life, but in the words and lives of others I admire and love. I have heard it preached in several contexts and using several different illustrations, but the basic message is the same: God chooses to come to us and to use us, in our weakness.
This is the essential Christmas story. God became human and made his home with us. Think about it this way. Can you imagine what it would be like, if Jesus lived in your guest bedroom…permanently? Sure, for a time you would try to be on your best behavior, keep the house clean and prepare home cooked meals every night, but eventually, He would see your bathroom dirty, He would overhear the arguments with your kids and spouse, He would witness the meltdowns and see the tears. The truth is that if you have surrendered your heart to Jesus, He has taken up permanent residence in your life. And He chose it. He chose your mess over the perfection of Heaven. He chose to be with you through thick and thin. He chose to be your guide and help you navigate the chaos of life.
He’s not intimidated by bad attitudes and bad hair days. He’s not turned off by family secrets and strife. He’s not convinced by the lies the enemy whispers in our ears telling us were disqualified and not good enough. He is with us and He is for us.
This week at church, I learned about the shepherds. They were considered the most unworthy people in their time, and yet the angels chose to appear to them to announce the birth of the Savior of the world. God chose them to play an integral role in the story. He marked their lives with significance. Because when God chooses to make Himself known to us, He reveals the true identity and value of even those who would be considered the least of us. I learned about Mary, just your average teenage girl. Can you remember what your life was like at age 14? Surely there are differences between being a teen now and living in Biblical times, but I think some feelings and concepts are still universal. I am sure at that point Mary was still figuring out her life. I am sure she dealt with fear and insecurity, mixed with excitement and wonder, over the idea of entering into marriage (as she was engaged). I am sure like many of us, she would consider herself least likely to be picked to do anything of importance , and yet God chose her to birth the Messiah.
What would it look like this Christmas if you believed that God was truly with you? Not just in the cleaned up and polished parts of your life, but in the messy places that you keep tucked away where no one can see? What would it look like if you believed God chose to stand with you in the messiest and hardest places of your life and still chose to love you the same? What if you knew that He chose to see you and define you not according to your mess, but according to His love and the promises He has spoken out over your life?
Take heart. He is truly with you. Open your eyes and choose to see Him there. Wherever you are, His arms are open waiting to embrace you.
