Early Morning Musings: Celebrating The Season of God With Us

This morning, Saturday, I started waking up around 5 and couldn't sleep past 6, despite getting to bed after 11; ah well, I've decided to make the best use of the time and appreciate the silence of a sleeping house. It's actually been a (tired) blessing, even though I'm an 8-hours-of-sleep kind of lady. I was able to spend a few minutes with my dad this morning before he left for work, praying with him and chatting about the coming day. I love him so much and am so thankful for him. Now, I'm sitting by our beautiful Christmas tree with a cozy mug of matcha tea, a banana, a fluffy blanket, and soft Christmas music playing in the background. 

This past month has been lovely, and I've been consistently (although perhaps not consistently enough) reminded of the miracle of the Christmas season. Jesus Christ, Immanuel ("God with us") came down to earth in the form of a helpless child (born under questionable circumstances and in a stable!) for the sake of living a perfect life in a sinful world so He could be killed by and on behalf of those rebelling against Him.

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)." Matthew 1:23 (English Standard).

God literally came down to earth to dwell among us! "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (English Standard). 

Because of Christmas, all who call upon His name by faith, repenting from their sins and turning to Him for forgiveness, may be saved! See, e.g. Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13. 

This season is truly a time of great celebration for those who have been saved, a time for us to rejoice in God our Savior and be encouraged to share the hope of our salvation, which includes God with US!

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 3:21-28 (English Standard).

On a slightly different note, this last Wednesday, our family helped with the children's Christmas program at our church, Sweet Pea (17) as make-up artist and child wrangler, me as understudy and cue help, Munchette as Elizabeth, and Gubby (14) as Ceasar. We not only had a great time but were also to spend a lot of time better appreciating the story of Christ's birth! 

Merry Christmas!

Sonia