"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." ~Luke 2:10, 11
As I sit here listening to Christmas music and looking at the Christmas tree I am flooded with memories growing up. There was something about Christmas that just made my heart come alive. I can remember as a little girl laying under the Christmas tree looking up through the branches and seeing the blinking colored lights. Oh, how I could sit there for hours just dreaming. And then there was the fun traditional things we would do as a family....Santa Land, Carol of the Lights at Texas Tech, driving through neighborhoods looking at lights. I looked forward to it every year as a child. And now as a grown woman with 2 boys, I have recreated some traditions of our own. To be honest with you I think I look forward to it more than the boys.
Today I find myself in a very different place. Although I still enjoy everything that the Christmas Season has to offer, I am reminded today of what Christmas is all about. And before I sound too spiritual, let me just say...what the Lord has reminded me of today has come through many tears and a very hard journey. I could feel very alone this Christmas but the Lord has so graciously reminded me that I am NEVER alone. He has been with me from the very beginning!
I have been reading Genesis in my quiet-times and I came across scripture that was like an "Ah Ha" moment for me especially during this Christmas Season. It is simply this...In the Garden of Eden God made a covering for Adam and Eve after they sinned. He made them "garments of skins and clothed them." There was blood shed from the animals that had to die to cover Adam and Eve. This is the picture which was already set in motion of what was to come. JESUS! To cover our sins and give us LIFE! The pursuit to bring us back into the intimate relationship that was experienced in the garden before sin entered in.
"I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness: I made a vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine." ~Ezekiel 16:8
The nakedness we feel is the awareness of our sin. We are so aware of the evil intentions of our heart that we want to hide. But we can't hide from God. God actually seeks us out to cover us and give us a promise that He will never leave us. Again, JESUS! WOW! What a great God!
The sad thing is, there are so many people who are living defeated lives because of the guilt and shame they feel from their sins. John Piper said it best when he said, "The great tragedy here is that people can become so paralyzed by sin that they give up living the lives God called them to live."
So my prayer this Christmas is for you to remember what it truly means that "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." We are given a covering over our sins and we are given a new life in Christ. Live under the covering!! Don't get out of the cover!! That is what is for. It takes the sin of man a puts it on the One who came into this world to be a sacrifice for all who would believe. Jesus IS the cover!!
So as I sit here this Christmas Season listening to Christmas music, I am remembering all the great things God has done for me. It's only through life with Christ that I can say...although the journey has been rough at times, it has transformed me more into His image as I follow the one who is the "the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature."
My prayer is that I too would be the "exact imprint of His nature" even in the hard places.
Merry Christmas my sweet friends! So thankful for all of you!
~kerry
