Iâve been thinking a lot about Christmas lately. Not surprising, right? But itâs moved in a more specific direction. Whatâs been on my mind is the Nativity or the birth of Jesus. Iâve been thinking how crazy it sounds that God, the creator of all things, would be born as a baby, to a virgin, in a place like Bethlehem, fully man and fully God. Is it just me or does that sound crazy? I think it does despite it being true.
Let me explain how I got to this point.
The reality of struggles
The last few months Iâve been struggling with a number of things in my life including a couple of nagging injuries that have impacted my training. Itâs got me thinking about how God fits into them. Iâve begun to see Him outside the box Heâs neatly resided in (I hate it when God gets out of the box, things then get complicated). As I was reading and considering this situation I read a short prayer that has been with me ever since:
âLord God, though I donât understand you I will trust you.â
That has been both liberating and a bit scary. Iâm a type-A guy and a leader. Iâm a coach and athlete who likes to put stock in results. Trust comes hard I admit. I like to set the tone. When I understand itâs a lot easier. I have a season plan and I stick to it, I periodize my training. This prayer says trust anyway. We enter into the realm of mystery when we trust without understanding. Itâs hard to do but then thatâs where God really shows up.
The reason for Christmas
That is what Christmas is about. This is what Christianâs (should) celebrate every December 25th-that in a manger in Bethlehem hundreds of years ago Godâs plan to bring salvation to all mankind was enacted. This is the hidden mystery which has been revealed and though hard to understand, by default, we are called to trust in it and the One who set it in motion.
Thatâs also where the problem comes for so many; when we move from principle to practice.
Sure, we trust God, but do we really TRUST God?? Iâm not so sure. When I look at my life and the lives of many around me our actions donât show that. We pay lip service to it. We sing one thing Sunday and live another on Monday.
As we confront the reality of Christmas and what it means âthe Word became flesh (John 1:14), God Himself came as man. The angels proclaimed this message of hope to a group of shepherds minding their own business. We read about this in Luke 2, we recite it, our kids will act it out this Sunday in our Christmas pageant. But do we UNDERSTAND what happened and do we TRUST the implications of it?Â
Couldnât they have just posted it on social media? No, this was more, this was a proclamation. A message that salvation had come for all people, not just a select few, that the old way of trying to work our way into Heaven (which doesnât work by the way) is done, the Messiah had come!
Good news
So what does this mean for us and why is it such a gift? Just this: that even though you may not understand it all, you donât have to. Gods got it covered. This is good news! Heâs given us the greatest Christmas gift ever: that if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved (Acts 2:21). Have you received the gift? Have you opened it? Do it and watch your life be changed forever.
Merry Christmas from the Fit Pastor. May you experience peace on earth and joy in your world this Christmas and in the year to come.