In Bethlehem, as the night winds blew through an unadorned stable, tiny fingers and toes heralded glorious, miraculous news to shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph and all who will kneel today.
God was once again among His people.
- The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14 NIV)
- Who, being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:6,7,8 NIV)
- as to his human nature was a descendant of David and who through the spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God. (Romans 1:3 NIV)
Though veiled in flesh, he was still in his nature the Son of God. By coming in the flesh, he reconciled man to God. (Colossians 1:22) All of history pivots on this one, miraculous, astounding event.
The Incarnate One dwelt (tabernacled) among us for thirty three years. Though we do not see Him in physical form today, he has sent his Holy Spirit to freely dwell in all who ask.
He lives in us.
The cobbler,Martin Avdeitch, worked and lived in a basement room with one small window. He spent his days watching the feet of passersby. His years as a cobbler meant he had repaired the shoes of most of the townspeople and could easily recognize the feet of each pedestrian.
One day, Leo Tolstoy’s devout cobbler, hoped and prayed that it would be the Lord’s feet he would see outside his tiny window. Hours went by with no sighting of those holy feet. Instead Martin noticed the tattered boots of an aging soldier as he paced outside the window. Though disheartened that it was not Jesus, the cobbler was filled with compassion and invited the penniless and hungry gentleman to share an evening meal.
Other friends came and went through the cobbler’s room that evening. But, while none were the Savior he longed to see, he welcomed them into his home.
At the end of his day, the disappointed old cobbler opened his Bible and as he read these words, heard the Lord whisper his name: “Martin, I was hungry and you gave me meat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in. Inasmuch as you did for the least of these you did it for me.”1
Jesus came as God in the flesh. He dwelt among us. The Incarnation of Christ was hailed by angels and is celebrated by millions today.
As we reflect on the Incarnate One this Christmas Season, may we worship and adore Him and serve and honor Him by welcoming and serving others as if they were Christ.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
- Charles Wesley, 1793
(1)Story told in Leo Tolstoy’s, Walk in the Light While There is Light and Twenty-three Tales (Maryknoll, NY:Orbis Books, 2003)
Free, Immediate Download of Three Chapters of One Endless Line of Faith: 30 Days of Prayer for Our Grandchildren. Just click on the link below for immediate download. No email address required.
One Endless Line of Faith Giveaway
