The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 1

I would like to set aside these 12 days of Christmas as a time to be thankful. Many of us have been through difficult times as of late: times of uncertainty, lonliness, loss, and sorrow. I find that one of the benefits of suffering is an increased clarity. When we struggle in this life, we are often blessed by God with a renewed sense of what is truly important.

I would like to kick off my 12 Days of Christmas by expressing my appreciation for our Father God--the One who has given us all that we have. I've been studying through Genesis this year with the women at my church, and I am constantly amazed at the faithfulness of God to love His wayward children. Created to bring Him glory, we selfishly desire to be independant of the only One who can bring us abundant life. The effects of our selfishness are all around us--we destroy ourselves and each other. Why doesn't God just give up on us? He should scrap this world and start over completely!

And yet, the heart of God yearns for us, His rebellious children. The first chapter of John is beautiful in the way that it describes God's heart for us. For years He sent His word through His Spirit to His people. What was our reaction? We distorted His message, convincing ourselves that He was a hard and brutal master. We killed the prophets He sent to warn us of the effects of our sin. We hardened our hearts to His love. What was God's reaction to us? Did He destroy? Did He give up? Did He withdraw from us forever?

John tells us that God did none of these things. He was not content with being misunderstood. He was not willing to lose us to our own destructive ways. He wanted to be KNOWN by us--so He sent His Ambassador, His exact representation. He sent His only precious Son. He wanted to show us who He is--a God who is willing to bear the burden of our life, the sorrow of our pain, the weight of our debt.

He sent His most precious possession, His baby boy, into a world that would use Him, mock Him, and eventually nail Him to a cross like a common criminal. Why? Why go to such effort for such undeserving people? Because He loves us with a love that is unfathomable. Because we BELONG to Him and this makes us worthwhile in His sight. Because the only way to free His beloved children from the power of the sin that imprisoned them was to take on the chains Himself. In one day, God paid our penalty, and freed us from bondage.

How can we resist a God like this? His love changes everything--we are free! Free to love, free to give, free to obey (our obedience is no longer a chore, but a joyous offering to One who is so beautiful!). I am thankful for a God who wants to be known, and a God who wants to know me. I am thankful for a God who is willing to suffer, so that I might gain everything from His hurt and pain. By His death we have abundant life. Life to the fullest!

Merry Christmas! I hope that today is a day that you set aside to realize how precious you are to God and His Son, Jesus. You are His reward, His prize! I hope you feel the depth of His love today, and that your response will be love in return. What are you waiting for? There is abundant life to be found in His Light!