December 23, 2021
From the Cradle to the Cross
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:11 NIV).
Friend to Friend
The story of Christmas is familiar. Many of us can recite verses and sing choruses that recap the holy day without so much as a second thought. It’s said that familiarity breeds contempt – so I wonder.
I wonder and I search my heart.
When I sit and search long enough to listen to God’s still small voice, I grapple with the familiar and I groan for the fresh… and I wonder. Have I shopped, cleaned, and baked away the season without bending a knee to worship the Savior? Have I decorated my home, but failed to focus my heart?
The story of Christmas is the ultimate story of life, of hope, of freedom. The beautiful and mysterious intersection of humanity’s depravity and Divinity’s provision. A complex invasion of darkness by light. By love. By a love that breathes life and brings beauty.
A LOVE THAT BREATHES LIFE
In the beginning, Divine Love breathed life into the made-from-dust lungs of Adam. Life-giving love. The perfect and complete love of a holy, triune, eternal God who spoke words and created new galaxies – new wonders – new worshipers. All was made so that He might be glorified.
We, His image bearers, however, are different from all other creations in that we are made to know Him. Personally. To know Love. True, pure, eminent love.
Then, stains of rebellion brought separation.
Rebellion of God’s plan – of His spoken word, of His will. Human wants and desires rose to rule – our own wills were done instead of God’s: in the Garden… in my life… in yours.
And though Scripture teaches that rebellion demands death (Romans 6:23), God’s love pursues with life-giving power. This Love that descended from heaven to earth, came to speak life to death through the incarnate Grace that was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a lowly manger.
On the night Jesus was born, an angel made his mission known. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11 NIV).
From the cradle to the cross, Jesus came to earth on a mission of love.
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10 NIV).
A LOVE THAT BRINGS BEAUTY
Jesus came upon the no-vacancy scene in Bethlehem to annihilate death – so that we, who are hopeless without Him, could experience love, forgiveness and freedom. Full life. Abundant life. Beauty-from-ashes life.
Childhood gave way to manhood, and at the age of thirty, Jesus Christ made his love mission known. While in a synagogue in Galilee, he unrolled an ancient scroll and found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:14-21 NIV).
The story of Christmas is the story of Jesus. The story of captives being set free, of the blind gaining sight, and of our stains of rebellion being washed white in his blood.
The story of Christmas is the story of life.
Today, as we move and meander in the mundane, I pray that you would join me in being gripped by a fresh and compelling awe for this perfect Love that breathes life and speaks beauty to our brokenness.
Let’s Pray
Holy Lord, incarnate Grace, You are beyond amazing! My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for Your love. Help me to live in responsive awareness of Your grace today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What would it look like for you to be gripped by a fresh and compelling awe of God’s love today?
Read Titus 3:4-5, then spend a few moments in responsive worship.
More from the Girlfriends
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© 2021 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
Originally published Thursday, 23 December 2021.
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