Coffee With The Lord

I think one of the most precious and meaningful truths of Christmas is the fact that Jesus, the one born of Mary on Christmas day, is referred to as “Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’” in Matthew 1:22-23 (completing and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14).

“God with us!” – what a thought, what a truth! Apostle John picked up on it and declared, “The Word [Jesus, Himself] became flesh [human] and dwelt [or lived} among us!” (John 1:14)

I just finished re-reading the wonderful autobiographical story of Bruce Olson – or “Bruchco,” Christian missionary with the Motilone Barí Indians, an indigenous tribe in Colombia and Venezuela. He struggled greatly to explain the truth of Jesus to the Motilones. One day, as a flash of God-given insight, he explained it this way… God came down and “walked all of our trails with us!”

That is the wonderful story of Christmas and the truth of the “incarnation!”

I don’t know the trail you’re on today! I am aware of what some of you are experiencing… pain, sorrow, temptation, loss, abandonment, isolation, or danger. Some of you are even facing death this Christmas… Hard trails! Here’s the wonderful truth of “Immanuel, God with us” … He has “walked your trail” – and He, our risen Lord and Savior will, “walk the trail with you!”
Here’s how the writer of Hebrews in the Bible expressed it: “It was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest… Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested!” (From Hebrews 4:17-18 NLT)

“Immanuel” – “God came down to walk our trails!” We do not walk alone – He walks with us! The wonderful truth of Christmas!

Just read it again today during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

A very wise man reminds us in the Bible, “Fear [reverence] God and obey His commands, for this is our duty! God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (From Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NLT)

But praise God, that’s not the WHOLE story…

“If we confess [acknowledge] our sin to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from ALL wickedness.” (1 John 1:9 NLT) and “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west!” (Psalm 103:12 NLT)

Whew… am I glad! (I have a BC – “Before Christ” – just like you do) and some stumbles along the way that need His forgiveness and cleansing!)

Christmas nostalgia grips us and we are swept into the cultural holiday river… we’re tempted to make it more about trees and tinsel, Santa and snowmen, gifts and giggles, carols and cookies, than JESUS! It’s the cultural holiday vortex and even evangelical Christians don’t escape it. We begin to lose focus – maybe it would be better to say we struggle to maintain focus!

So this morning during “the Christmas season” with all the holiday trappings everywhere around me (after all I went Christmas shopping with Sharon yesterday!), I was brought up short during my time of “coffee with the Lord” with this brief, but powerful declaration from the Bible…

“THE FATHER SENT HIS SON TO BE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!” (1 John 4:14)

And I was reminded once again, “Jesus is the reason for the season!” His birth pointed to His death, burial and resurrection! “For God SO LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, so that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Oh Lord, during this holiday season, help me to keep that clearly in focus!!!