I don’t think we often appreciate what we have in Jesus. The relationship with have with God.
Sometimes we tend to look at the people of the Old Testament and wonder how they could lack faith, or how they could so easily turned from God. We have to remember that except for a select few of them, they never knew God. God was something above them that sent down fire and brimstone, plagues upon his enemies and manna and blessings upon his people. But He was not with them, He did not dwell in their hearts. I imagine there was very little comfort when they thought about God. For his mercy was sweet, but his justice was swift and final, but they never saw Him, never talked to Him, never knew Him.
Then one night, in a drafty stable, all of that changed. To a lowly carpenter and his wife, in the must humble of surroundings, suddenly, we saw the face of God. From shepherds to kings, he could be seen. As He grew into manhood and ministry, He walked with us, and talked with us, and taught us and God was seen in a way we never saw Him before.
Like God, through miracle and teeaching, and like man through His humble life.
And then He was gone.
But just ten days after he “left” God came again, this time, by the Holy Spirit, the comforter….and we saw Him in a a way we never saw Him before. He became God…..within us, dwelling in the temple of our hearts, communing with us in a away so intimate and close, there was zero seperation betwee us and God. No Longer was God way up there, and we way down here. No longer was He over there and we crowded in to see and hear Him. We are priviledged to see Him in a whole new way.
As we get ready to celebrate Christmas and give and receive gifts, let us remember to truly appreciate the gift we have been given.
