Merry Christmas – 2009

Amidst the clamor and chaos this season is Grace. She shines far brighter than any Christmas tree, lit rooftop or mechanical reindeer. She is more hopeful than any child gawking gifts or mother giving birth.

As captivating as her countenance appears, her message is scandalous. Her disclosure makes no apology, requires no alliance to advance, and serves no one. She is disappointing – disappointing to anyone who would try to dilute her potency, malign her authority, or dowse her resolve.

Hear her message:

Truth and I are personified through a babe who was born in a filthy barn. This boy grew up among the poor and underprivileged, stood defiant against traditional wisdom and established religion, and died after public ridicule and torture.

And yet His story was not by chance, but by grace-filled intention.

Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:6-11 (NLT)

For His birth announcement, flashes of lightning and thunderous voice were replaced by the light of a singular star and the voice of an angel. Deserved fanfare was dismissed for shepherds and vagabonds. And wondrously, the Creator of the universe was conceived and born.

Jesus embodied grace – the grace of love and unmerited favor towards us. The extent of which Jesus reached out to each of us so personally, so completely, so undeniably proves the size and scope of His love for you and me.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 (NIV)

The message is simple. To the sage and noble, the message is foolishness. To the humbled, healed and forgiven, Grace lives and abounds.

May you and yours find a new sense of grace, wonder and joy through the birth of our Savior.

Merry Christmas,

-D

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