Monday, December 27, 2010
Third Christmas Day
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
HE WAS THERE
When I step up to the altar on communion Sunday I receive a personal reminder from Jesus that He is my Savior from sin. Yes, I know that fact pretty well. I've heard it a million times in sermons, in readings, in devotions, in hymns, etc. But when I step up to the Lord's Table, Jesus brings this message home to my heart in a very special and intimate way. There in the bread and wine of this meal, Jesus has placed His own body and blood. I have no idea how this can be. I can't see Him or taste Him, but since He says it, I believe it.
Imagine that, my own Savior is there. His same body that was nailed to the cross. His same blood that trickled down from His wounds. And He says to me, "Here. Here and now, I'm here for you. And if I'm really here, than you can be sure I was there, there and then. On the cross. In your place."
This huge stepping-down blows me away. God's Son comes to me. Why in the world would God's Son want to do that? I'm a dirty, forgetful, bad-thinking, grudge-keeping, foolish, doubtful liar. I fail on so many levels and in so many ways it's hard to imagine that God would ever want me in His house.
But there Jesus is, every communion Sunday, coming to me, saying to me, "I'm here. Your sins have been forgiven."
That's what makes Christmas Christmas. It's not the gift giving. It's not the family, the commercial buildup, or the songs on the radio. It's the fact that He was really there in the manger.
Jesus came for you. Died for you. And because He did -- and has enabled you to believe this -- you are now a forgiven child of God. And the Christmas joy of the children of God is eternal.
