Christmas Day

All the presents are open – at least for the members of the family who are here today. Tomorrow we will do it all over again with another group of folks who are spending today with other in-laws. All that is left to do now is eat – lots and lots of turkey, dressing, potatoes, etc, and lots of pie, cake, candy, and such.

It is so easy to get distracted from the best part of this day. God has come to dwell among men. It’s not that it was only for 30+ years over 2000 years ago, rather, that once He came to dwell on Earth, He chose to remain within men in the person of the Holy Spirit, forever – or at least until Believers are transported to their permanent home in the Presence of the entire Trinitarian God-head; Father, Son, and Spirit.

The Scripture gives us many images of God, but none is more significant than one of the names given to the Messiah – Immanuel. Meaning “God with us” it is the basis for understanding that as we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the death which paid the price for our ransom from the curse of sin, He has chosen to “abide” in us, for the entirety of our Earthly life. Now, we must learn to live under the direction and control of His leadership.

Paul, the Apostle, says it like this – “Be filled (under the absolute control) with the Spirit.” On this Christmas day, (and the day after, when you will most likely be reading this), and every day, I encourage you to renew your commitment to that filling. “God with us” – as my grandsons would say, “like – wow!”