God is not a distant being far way, floating on a cloud. He is loving and joyful Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and wants an intimate relationship with you. We are made in His image, and included in this loving relationship when our eyes are opened to the Light of the World.

The Gospel message of tells us the Incarnation (God became man) was God’s plan from the beginning of the world (Eph 1:5). He predestined humanity in Christ  so He could adopt us into the perfect loving relationship he shares with the Son and the Spirit.

The Incarnation Allows Our Adoption

“Everything we thought we knew, from our doctrine of God to our notions of salvation, from election to eschatology, from heaven and hell to repentance and faith have to be rethought in the light of Jesus’ identity. Jesus is the light of the world.The incarnation —and the shared life that comes to us in the incarnate Son— is the original plan before the first particle of creation was called into being…

The gospel is the news that Jesus Christ has received us into his life. We don’t make Jesus part of our world; he has made us part of his, part of his life and relationship with his Father, part of his anointing in the Spirit, part of his relationship with his creation. It is this reality that summons us to faith and repentance.”–Baxter Kruger

What we have in creation and in Israel’s history is the preparation of ‘the womb of the incarnation.’–T. F. Torrance

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7)

The commercialization of the holidays makes it difficult for many Americans to keep their priorities straight. Whatever celebration your family has planned remember the reason for the season and figure out a way to give to someone else in some unexpected way. Give the memories of giving to others to your children.

Related Posts:

• To Christmas or Not: Holiday Delemas
• Happy Hanukkah
• Mary Did You Know?
• Handle’s Messiah

“Dear Santa, I am not sure why I am writing you this year. You always bring toys. I don’t want toys. All I want is my family to be happy again.”