47: O Come, Let Us Adore Him
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
WE HUMANS HAVE BEEN granted unbelievable dignity. If you struggle with self-esteem, you need to pay attention to the story of Christmas. It’s about royal dignity.
God didn’t become an angel, an eagle, a cow, or even a great whale. God became a human being like us. God so loved us that He became us.
What did He do? Here are a few thoughts adapted from author Darrell Johnson.[1]
- He altered the mode of His Being. Before Christmas, the Living God was pure Spirit. At Bethlehem, one of the Persons of the Trinity took human form as a baby and lived among us. Wow!
- God empathizes with us. This is astounding because He is aware of our pain. Does He feel our pain? Yes, I believe He does. Jesus coming to this world and going to the cross shows God’s great care and compassion for us.
- He has given us awesome hope for the future and the certainty that we will be made whole. At Bethlehem, God forever linked His future to our future. That means our future is as certain as God’s future is. “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
- He makes claims that we can trust absolutely. Jesus says:
“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
“Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).
“Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48).
He’s greater than any issue you’re facing or will face in this next year.
This Christmas, may we follow the lead of the shepherds and the magi and worship Jesus.
O come, let us adore Him.
Questions
- What does it mean to you that God altered the mode of His Being to become like us?
- What hope do you find in Jesus’ birth and the claims that Christ made about Himself?
- What issues do you face now or in the coming year? How does the idea that God is “greater than” affect you?
- How has God cared for you over the years? How can you share this with others as part of your Christmas celebrations?