Timelapse Star-Trails Photograph taken by Wesley Shank
Good morning friends,
Christmas Day is almost here!
Children are anxiously looking forward to presents. Families are finishing last minute decorations.
But I believe we need to be thinking deeper than Santa Claus and Christmas lights.
If you don't want to go deeper, that's fine. I won't be be offended if you skip out here.
Because today I am going deep.
I think this time of year we each should ask ourselves the question, "Why did He do it?"
Why did God humble Himself to come down to this sin-filled earth?
As David said 3,000 years ago, "When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have established; what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him?" (Ps. 8:3-4)
Why does God even give us the honor of His attention?
After all, He is the God who created the heavens by the work of His fingers. It doesn't say He created them by the work of His strong arm and by the sweat of His brow... The immense stars were detailed finger work to God!
And He is the only one who knows the number of these stars and calls them all by their names. (Ps. 147:4)
He is the God who laid the foundations of the earth (Isa. 51:16) and measured out the heavens with a span. (Isa. 40:12)
He is the God who weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. (Isa. 40:12)
He is the God to whom the nations are like a drop in a bucket or the small dust on a scales. (Isa. 40:15) With all their people, with all their land, and with all their power the nations are still counted less than nothing in comparison to God's greatness. (Isa. 40:17)
And yet, He is the God who humbled Himself to come down to this world as a tiny baby... for us.
He is the God who allowed Himself to be tempted in all points just like we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)
He is the God who said, "How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23:37)
He is the God who allowed men freedom of choice and was despised and rejected. (Isa. 53:3)
He allowed Himself to be mocked – by men.
He allowed Himself to be slapped in the face – by men.
And He finally allowed Himself to be crucified – by men.
By men that He had created.
By men that He had allowed to reject Him.
By men that He still had full power over to destroy at any moment.
But instead, He chose to love and forgive them. (Luke 23:34)
And He wants to do the same for each one of us.
He says, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)
He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance before it is too late. (2Pe. 3:9)
He asks us to confess our sins so He can forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)
If we choose Him as our God, then He will feed us in His flock as a Shepherd and will carry us as lambs in His bosom. (Isa. 40:11)
He will adopt us into His Family and call us His children. (Rom. 8:14-17)
That is why He did it.
That's why He came down to this world as a baby. He wanted to give us a chance to accept Him as our Saviour so He could invite us into the Family of God.
Blessings on your Christmas Day,
Wesley
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