An Invitation
It is a festive time – the lights, the joy, the gatherings with family and friends. Everywhere, the atmosphere is mysteriously transformed. Even secularists know in their hearts, this is not the collusion of a benevolent, mythical Santa Claus character and his red-nose guide. Nor is it merely the exchange of presents and holiday greetings.
There is something else in the air.
Christmas, theologically, is about the incarnation, about God coming to the earth. Why? To find me and you! That’s why the scriptures put despised shepherds and wise kingly men before the Christ-child. He came for those near and far. For the weak and culturally despicable as well as the noble and the royal. He came, the Bible says, with the heavens, the star of Bethlehem, announcing his arrival and sending a signal to the earth that moved far away Magi, students of astronomy, to undertake a trek of almost a thousand miles to lay gifts before the child.
He came with an angel announcing to common shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you… the Messiah, the Lord… You will find a baby wrapped in priestly cloths and lying in a manger.” To David’s vocational heirs, the announcement came. Suddenly, there was also an angelic choir singing to these shepherds. It was an invitation, one that is still open to all, “Come to the stable – and behold the Christ child.”
The invitation is still open to all
God has come – in human form. God has come to taste life on this planet filled with pain and promise. God has come, to walk among us, to hear and have compassion, to touch and be touched. He came to heal and offer hope. He came to form a new family out of shepherds and kings, paupers and princes, ultimately Jews and Gentiles. He came under the banner of ‘peace on earth,’ to offer amnesty to all who had committed crimes against the holiness of God. To offer, not only peace with God, but the peace of God – inner peace.
There is fable that involves earthlings gathered to condemn God. “We condemn you,” the spokesman declared, lifting his voice, “to be born poor and in obscurity, as an illegitimate child, and to a peasant mother. To a race of people despised who suffer discrimination. To know shame and rejection. To champion a cause so noble that no one understands either the purpose or mission. To be betrayed by family and friends. To be falsely tried and found guilty. To die like a criminal, a ghastly and lonely death. To be disowned and without a family burial plot to welcome even your remains.” So the sentence was pronounced.
Silence. All waited for God’s response. Then it was clear. God had already served His sentence.
Yet, He loves still. He keeps coming to us – as He is to you, right now, through the person of the Holy Spirit, wanting a relationship with you, at the cost of the cross.
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Author: P. Doug Small
P. Douglas Small is a Bible teacher and prayer leader. He has served as a pastor and on the faculty of a number of accredited Bible Colleges. He is an Ordained Bishop and International Director of Prayer Ministries with the Church of God. He is the founding president of Project Pray, teaching and training through schools of prayer and consultations for congregations and cities, working with pastors, vocational Christians and intercessors. He is chair of the PCCNA Prayer Commission and a member of the Executive Leadership team of the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. Doug is married to Barbara Ruth with whom he shares five children and twenty grandchildren.
