The Christmas carols have been sung, the Christmas drama presented, the Christmas dinner consumed, and the gifts all opened. The exciting Christmas spirit of anticipation, hopes, and celebrations now deflated. Now what?
When we were young, we would ask, “Why can’t it be Christmas every day?” Of course, we were thinking mostly about the presents we would get. Today, I still ask why does celebrating the angel’s good news of joy and peace for all people end so quickly? Why are we so quick to hush and file away for another year the joyous music and message of God’s gift to the world.
The biblical scriptures clearly indicate that God desires for us to continue enjoying his salvation gifts of joy, peace, and goodwill every day and for always. This is his one grand and glorious purpose for coming into our world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).
During the Advent-Christmas season we joyously and thankfully remember and celebrate what God has done in sending us the Messiah, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Living in a shadowy world of evil, violence, and diminishing hope, a “Savior” is the greatest of all gifts we could ever receive. A “Savior” brings us rescue, redemption, renewed life, hope, and a future.
Accompanying God’s salvation gifts of joy and peace is the gift of his loving presence with us. In Jesus, God comes into our world and participates in the sufferings of his people, whom we are. As “Emmanuel” God brings to us mercy, compassion, unfailing love, redemption and rescue. What a gift! What amazing love and grace is wrapped in his gift of presence with us.
“Emmanuel” – God with us. But I hear Paul saying there is even greater and more amazing “good news.” The Almighty, all-knowing, ever-loving God, through Jesus, comes to live in us. Yes, we human beings are the intended recipients of his coming.
In the first chapter of his letter to the Colossian church, Paul writes in verses 26-27, that “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations” has now been revealed. The New Living Translation reads “This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”
There is no greater gift than this. Christ dwells in us. This is confirmed in John’s record of Jesus’ proclamation to the church in Laodicea, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20).
The essence of the whole Christian experience and the crown jewel of the gospel, is that Jesus Christ, by whom and through whom all things were created, who is before all things and in all things, in whom God was pleased for all His fullness to dwell, – this Christ who has primacy over all things, in whom all things hold together, who is the head of the church, – this Christ, who will stand at the end of time and be the final judge and triumphal Lord, lives in us by the Holy Spirit.
In one of the boldest prayers ever prayed, Paul interceded for us, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. …that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16,17,19).
What feelings does this thought of “Christ dwelling in you” arouse? Hopefully, this glorious truth leads you toward an answer to my “Now what” question. The answer I hear is messaged in this Christmas carol.
“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.”
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 29, 2021
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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