(Warning: this blog is rated SLR ~ Sin, Love and Redemption)
Let me start by saying I know I’m way out of my league tackling God’s perspective on Christmas, or His perspective on anything for that matter. Having said that, I believe that God desires an authentic, loving relationship with us, and that kind of relationship only happens when we get to know each other beyond the surface. I also believe that one way God discloses Himself to us is through the Bible, in which His character is revealed to the extent that we can understand and know Him. So I do think we can get at least a tiny insight to His perspective on Christmas.
Christmas was no surprise to God. It was not even a Johnny-come-lately idea. Christmas was in God’s design before the beginning of time; a key feature in the Creation plan. God formed us in love, but unfortunately the original couple loved themselves more than their Maker. God knew this would happen. Only He is perfect. Only He can love perfectly. Only He can live perfectly. Yet He made us anyway because He wanted us, and He included a redemption plan in His owner’s manual. Since He knew that we would all fall short of His glory, He planned to redeem or restore us to Him through His Son.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
Christmas sprang from God’s love and mercy.
Mercy ~ 1. Kind, compassionate treatment of an offender or other person under one’s power (clemency) 2. God’s unwarranted compassion.
In His unsurpassed love He already planned to forgive us for our imperfect choices rather than give us the punishment we deserved. And His plan was wild ~ sending His holy Son to earth as one of us, fully God yet fully man, to make a way for us, His people, to enter His kingdom.
Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation (Jesus)for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, …And…(John the Baptist) will go before the face of the Lord (Jesus) to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring (Jesus) from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:68-79)
That’s a lot to take in. While most of us focus on the “happy” and “merry” part of Christ’s birth, God was already focused on the cross because the Easter story is intimately intertwined with the Christmas story. Without Easter, without Christ dying on the cross for our/my sins, the Christmas story would be just a mind-blowing but feel-good story of a baby who grew up to walk the earth offering unsurpassed personal coaching and heavenly lessons for living life.
Instead, Christ’s birth, and therefore God’s mercy, is directly associated with:
Salvation -1. Preservation or deliverance from evil or difficulty 2. The deliverance of man from the power or penalty of sin. (redemption)
We deserve death for our sins but God has provided a way out from under that death sentence, a forgiveness of our sins, through the birth and death of His Son.
Forgiveness ~ to excuse or pardon for a fault or offense 2. To renounce anger against 3. To absolve from payment of.
As far as the east is from the west, God will forgive us of our sins (missing the mark of holy living).
Light ~ 1. To be born, come into existence 2. To comprehend or perceive the meaning of something.
God gives us access to His compassionate ways and right living. He shows us the knowledge through Christ who prepared a way for us. Not only do we have access to His eternal kingdom but we have access to a better life right here and now on earth.
Peace – 1. Freedom from quarrels and disagreements 2. Inner contentment; calm; serenity (peace of mind) 3. To maintain and observe order.
God prepared a way for us to live in peace in Him rather than in fear and a purposeless struggle with life.
So in my way of looking at God’s perspective of the Christmas story, He’s more excited about this birthday than anyone (except maybe His Son). He created and orchestrated an amazing plan, a story for the ages, a miracle for all mankind. He wrapped presents of salvation, forgiveness and light to put under the tree. He hung heavenly stars and sent a choir of angels to celebrate the Good News of Christ’s coming, and of His eventual death on the cross so that we may live eternally with God Himself.
“Merry Christmas, world,” says God. “The gifts last long past the day of their opening. They are eternal present from Me to you, and are yours just for the asking.”
(Blogmeister’s note: I have so many questions for God and yet am speechless.)
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