Sample Devotion - How Far
Thoughts About the Journey
6. How Far Was It for God?
The distance God had to travel to Bethlehem is beyond our comprehension. How does the Creator of the universe journey into that universe to become part of his creation? How does the eternal, omni-present God dwell within its time and space continuum? How does the One who upholds the universe by his Word of Power take on humanity and lie in a manger, a helpless Baby, dependent on his mother's care and feeding for his very life? How does the One who established the immutable laws of nature become a Man fully subject to those laws? How can the Highest become the lowest, the Lord of all become a servant, the Holy One become sin for us? How could the holy, just God lay on his Son, in his suffering on the cross, the iniquity of us all? How can he now offer us forgiveness full and free through faith in his Son? And how can this faith be the difference for us between eternal death and eternal life?
The world struggles with such questions – and usually rejects the simple answers of God's Word. And, as a result, if it celebrates Christmas at all, it changes it into a celebration of the human spirit of good will and gift-giving. It misses the mystery that God proclaims at Christmas: "Christ the Savior is born!"
This has always been the case. Paul wrote in Romans that those who expect God to act the way they expect him to act stumble at the Christ and his manger and his cross. He said that those who expect him to meet them in the categories of their logic dismiss the Good News of Jesus Christ as foolishness.
But to us who are being saved this surprising story of the birth in Bethlehem of a Savior, Christ the Lord, of his obedient human life to win righteousness for us, of his atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross, of his victorious resurrection, and of his ascension to rule all things at God's right hand – this surprising story is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Only God would think of it – and act it out for us – and come to us through it with his gracious gifts of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
It's God's journey to Bethlehem, not ours, that Christmas is all about. And because he made the journey he still says to each of us: "Christ, your Savior is born!"
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