Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
— Isaiah 7:14
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:6
Before human history even began, our Father in Heaven looked down the corridors of time, saw the Fall in the Garden, and reconciled us to Himself through His beloved Son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). What a wonderful blessing it is to know the Truth, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Our Father sent His son as an expression of a love that we simply cannot fully grasp; a love that transcends even the boundaries of time. God’s love is timeless, perfect, resolute - having reached across an infinite chasm ripped open because of man’s sin, to no fault of God’s - He became a man to take the punishment.
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
— 2 Corinthians 9:15
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
— Romans 8:32
I pray that each of us be able to relax this Christmas season, to sift through all the white noise and the irritating tension that precedes December 25th each year, to see beyond the snotty kids crying for more toys from Santa, and to remember why Jesus was born. He was born to die for our sins. He is the greatest gift conceivable. He is the reason for the season, at least for us believers. And He is the essence of all things promised and worth hoping for. He is our everything. He was born to be this for us.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
— John 14:6
My prayer is that all of us keep our eyes on the prize. I pray that we remember our Lord’s precious words above and that we abide in them. Christ was born a Victor. He’s already defeated His adversary, death. We are secured in Him for all eternity. There is no losing now, only winning. I pray for clarity on this, especially this Christmas season, as things unwind and children become unhinged with avarice. Though I’m saddened, I rejoice always, to be fair. It is by the grace of God that any of us have any hope at all this year, or any year. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Let us remember why the magnificent One was born. Let us remember who He is, our Redeemer.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
— Revelation 21:3-7
God loved us so much He became a man (what a humiliating prospect) in order to reconcile us to Himself. Love, my friends - this ought to be our focal point this Christmas season; not presents, not food, not even family gatherings, strictly speaking.
Love. Keep it. Treasure it. Abide in it.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
— Ephesians 5:1-2
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
