1 John 4:9

So that we might live in him.

1 John 4:9

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (use)

So Christmas comes with good cheer, enjoy it. But know that it comes with religious baggage we should shed.

Toynbee, P., 2022. Christmas comes with good cheer. The tragedy is the religious baggage.
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1 John 4:9

In this the love of God was made manifest among us... (use)

But once you accept the existence of a divine creator who has a personal relationship with you, almost anything else is possible. It is not crazy but logical to conclude that what such a God says or does will sometimes be beyond our conmprehension. It follows that there is nothing irrational in accepting a story that we are unable to make sense of rationally.

Baggini, J., 2018. Atheists who bring logic to the Easter story are missing the point.
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The perfect wisdom of our God, Revealed in all the universe: All things created by His hand, And held together at His command. He knows the mysteries of the seas, The secrets of the stars are His; He guides the planets on their way, And turns the earth through another day.

Getty, K., 2010. The Perfect Wisdom of Our God.
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In fact, this story—God’s story concerning his people—could reasonably be summarized as: God’s people are faithless and forgetful, but the God who has covenanted himself to them in love is faithful and steadfast; he remembers his people.

Newman, P., 2021. Why Do We Go to Church? Because We're Forgetful.
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Isaiah 9:7

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (use)

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain, Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty — Jesus Christ.

Rossetti, C., 1872. In the Bleak Midwinter.
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1 John 4:9

...that God sent his only Son into the world,... (use)

1 Kings 8:27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! (use)

Daniel 7:13–14

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (use)

The most mind-boggling miracle is the incarnation. We believe that the Creator of the Universe, the one who existed before time and before anything else, became one of us. If you accept that, then there are a lot of other things that don’t seem to be quite as unbelievable.

Kristof, N., 2017. Cardinal Tobin Am I a Christian?
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Isaiah 46:10

declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (use)

1 John 4:9

...so that we might live through him. (use)

If we look deep inside our hearts we are not going to find the solution to our angst we are going to find the cause of it.

Allberry, S., 2019. Is God Anti-Gay? The Gospel Coalition.
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Isaiah 53:12

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (use)

There is a crisis, in fact there is no shortage of crisis! A war in Europe, the concerns of climate change, the cost of living crisis, perhaps an energy crisis and do you remember the pandemic? But tonight we remember the greatest of crisis, the eternal crisis of sin. But this is a crisis which comes with good news, that it has a certain solution and that the birth we remember tonight means there is a hope, and a certain hope for those who would claim it.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.

Wesley, C., 1739. Hark! the herald angels sing.
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The purpose of the incarnation was redemption. God came in the flesh to take sin away, not to accomplish something for Himself. The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both.

Chambers, O., 2017. My Utmost for His Highest.
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Matthew 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (use)

For men and women with awakened consciences, burdened by the guilt of hearts centred on ourselves, haunted by memories - perhaps especially at Christmas - of things said and done of which we are ashamed, there can be nothing more wonderful to hear than this: our sins can be forgiven. And they can. It is true. This is not fantasy. Because Jesus Christ came in human flesh, and lived, and grew, and loved God, and die to pay the penalty for sinners, our sins can really be forgiven.

Ash, C., 2019. Repeat the sounding joy. [Day 13]
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