Christmas: God Come To Us

During our church’s Christmas service last evening, I struggled to pay attention. Tending to my feisty kiddo, and worrying over her distracting antics, all I managed to catch was, “Blah blah blah. Christmas. Blah blah blah. Jesus. Blah blah blah. Joy.”

(Which is a hundred times more awful to admit when your husband is the preacher. #keepingitreal)

I felt distant. I felt unfocused. I felt guilty. I didn’t feel very Christmas-y.

If you’re also feeling far away this holiday season, know that you don’t have to travel to find The Lord.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Emmanuel: God with us.

Christmas: God come to us.

God came into the yuck of this world. Jesus, the God-man, walked dirty streets paved with trash and sin. He felt the limits of human frailty. He looked prostitutes in the face. He ate dinner with thieves and liars. He spent time with the poor and the marginalized.

He was no stranger to ugly, un-Christmas-y things.

In all our trials born to be our Friend;
He knows our need,
To our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

— O Holy Night

You don’t have to put on your Sunday best to come to God. He came to you.

He knows your need, and he provided the answer with a mighty baby in a lowly manger.

The God-man. A child-King.

The One who will make all things right. Who will make sad things become untrue.

Draw close in faith.

God has come.