Perspectives

The invitation

By Seth Carter
Posted 12/19/24

It’s Christmas time again! I’m sure you’ve noticed it by now: the smells, the sounds, the feels. It seems that no matter how early the preparations start (too early these days in my …

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Perspectives

The invitation

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It’s Christmas time again! I’m sure you’ve noticed it by now: the smells, the sounds, the feels. It seems that no matter how early the preparations start (too early these days in my opinion), the few days before Christmas come suddenly, and there is still much to be done! However on Christmas Eve, I am thoroughly anticipating a time of quiet reflection, a time to remember and receive again the gift of Jesus, God with us. It still amazes me that the story of the Bible is a story of the creator God coming ever closer to us because we need him to. In Romans chapter three, Paul quotes the Psalms and says:

“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”

So the gift of the Messiah, the baby in a manger who is God, who grows up and is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” John 1:29, is not just a gift, but our chance at life! Receiving a gift requires us to be humble, because if it’s truly a gift, then we have done nothing to deserve it or earn it. (If someone receives a gift with a sense that they “had it coming,” that indicates either a high level of arrogance or that they felt they were earning it all along.)

A gift given is an invitation! The gift of Jesus that we happen to celebrate Dec. 25, is especially so. God is inviting us into an eternal relationship of life with him, one that we cannot earn or deserve. Jesus is the sacrifice that each of us needs! 

Isaiah opens his book of prophecy to the ancient Israelite people by saying that they aren’t as smart as animals. An animal knows where to find food, he says, by going to the master’s manger! What they needed was to humble themselves and turn back to God to receive satisfaction and nourishment. The food we need — the Bread of Life — is also found in a manger. As a matter of fact, God sent angels to give the birth announcement to lowly shepherds, people not considered Israel' s brightest or best. They didn’t hesitate, but left their sheep unattended and headed straight for town to “see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us,” Luke 2:15.

It has been made known to us as well, and each year at this time we have a fresh invitation to come to the manger and see what we need the most, the gift of life.

This gift is an invitation, but also comes with a warning. Just as the season of Christmas seems to come suddenly each year, with impending preparations and expectations, one day Jesus will come back. The Bible is clear that the next coming of Jesus will come suddenly, and if we aren’t prepared we won’t be able to shrug it off. Paul again, in the first letter to the Thessalonians wrote:

“You yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape,” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.

He goes on to say that this is not what God wants for us, but that we can obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us. The apostle Peter told us the same thing: “The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

I pray that this Christmas season, you will make some space to come to the manger and consider that what you really need most is there. God’s gift, the baby Jesus, is our only hope for a forever life with God. Don’t save this for a New Year’s resolution; put this on this year’s business! God bless you and may you enjoy a Merry Christmas with friends and family, considering the great love God has for you.

(Seth Carter is director of Campus Ventures in Powell.)

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