The Wonder Of Christmas

The wonder of Christmas is the message of “God’s astounding and radical intervention in human history” in the birth of a child. It is indeed an amazing and astounding message that Love Came Down At Christmas through a new born child. Through a new born child, God is teaching us three important truths about the mystery of love and life.

In the helplessness of a new born baby, we are reminded of the first important truth – our total helplessness and our need for the grace of God to live a life that is fully human. The most important thing we need to do is to "make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God." This is the third step in the Twelve Steps of the Alcoholic Anonymous programme for recovery from alcohol or any kind of addiction.

The first step of the Twelve Steps is the acknowledgement by the addict of their powerlessness over alcohol. Likewise, we too need to confess our powerlessness to live a life of love, joy and peace. Like the addicts to alcohol, we too need to take the second step in the Twelve Steps which is to come to a belief in a Power greater than ourselves to overcome our self-centeredness and selfish nature. As Paul reminds us, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We do the things that we do not want to do and fail to do the good that we want to do.

The second important truth that the new born child teaches us is that we need one another. Love is not a feeling but our commitment to seek the good of another regardless of the response we may receive. God is omnipotent but He came as a baby to show us the power of His love as well as the power of powerlessness.

The third important truth is that children are God’s messengers to remind us to live our lives here on earth with spiritual eyes and ears attuned to the voice of our Heavenly Father. As we do so, we will reframe our image of God. We can then develop a loving and intimate relationship with our Abba Father. Jesus came, died and rose from the dead so that we can sing “Because He Lives.” We can be assured that we can face all our tomorrows without fear because Christ lives. He holds our future and life is worth the living:

“How sweet to hold a new born baby,

And feel the pride and joy He gives.

But greater still the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain days because He lives!”

May this Christmas rekindle our wonder of God’s love and inspire us to live our lives with agape love in the new year.