Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Listen to the Word

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  (Hebrews 2:17-18)

You probably would never see President Biden standing in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles, waiting to get his car tags renewed. It is unlikely that you’ll run into Jeff Bezos at your next yard sale.

It is even more unexpected that you would see the God of the ages wearing a diaper and lying in an animals’ feeding trough. But that is exactly what we see at Christmas! We couldn’t make up a story this wild – the Almighty One shows up as a helpless newborn, unable to do anything but squirm and make noises. The one who spoke the universe into existence becomes a baby who has to be taught how to talk. The one who holds the world in his hand had to be held by his mother and rocked and fed and changed. It is unimaginable. Nobody but God could dream up the miracle of Christmas – the miracle of the Incarnation. God with us! God one of us!

Live the Word

Read today’s Scripture once again, and see what phrase jumps out at you the most. Turn that phrase over in your mind as you go through the rest of the day.