It’s Friday…Yes, Sometimes It Feels A Little Too Personal

Christmas time is here. After the “different” year we’ve had and are still in, one thing remains the same, God’s heart for us. His heavenly message of love for you and me never changes, it will never cease. In fact, it’s personal.

What was in the mind of God when He sent His Son to be with us? Was it frustration over all of His attempts to get people to behave correctly? Was it because the Law did not do what it was supposed to do? Was the spoken Word so lacking that, in a last-ditch effort, God tried turning the spoken Word into the living Word?

We know, of course, that God – The Son, Jesus Christ, coming as a man was not a last-ditch effort. It was the plan from the very beginning. All of the prior judgments – of Noah’s generation, of Sodom and Gomorrah, of wicked Canaanite tribes – were foundational to God coming to earth as a man. All of the prior promises – to Abraham and his descendants, to the newly freed Israelites at Sinai, to the prophets of restoration and hope – were wrapped up in this amazing plan. The righteousness of God first had to be established, then the wisdom of His plan would work. The Spirit of The Eternal One could then clothe Himself in the skin of man and have it actually mean something to us.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)

What does this Truth mean to you? When you read your Bible, does it make a difference that The Word is just not telling us what to do but offering to re-create the fundamental nature of our spirit? When you worship God, is it better to do it with a transformed heart than with a slavish obedience to an unknown deity? Does it matter to you that instead of simply being religious as best as you can, you relate to a Person – a Person who lived in the same kind of body you and I have and yet is still powerful and wise enough to be our God? Are you glad your faith is this. . . well, personal?

Some people aren’t. They would prefer a distant God who will leave them alone until requested to show up. The God who became flesh has so much better instore for us. Yes, Sometimes It Feels A Little Too Personal – there is sin and obedience to deal with. But ultimately, we appreciate it. We’re flesh and we need to relate to flesh. The Word – the “logos” and logic of the universe – knew that, so Jesus came to dwell. Yes, Christmas time is here to remind us of such a gift we’ve been given from above. Let’s enjoy Him, and celebrate like eternity has made His home in us.

Have a joy-filled weekend. Make it a priority to worship The LORD with those who know and understand how personal He is, and relish the fact that He made it possible for everyone to have an intimate relationship with Him.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)