Moment in the Word
Tue, 11/28/2023 - 1:59pm
admin
By:
Edwin Woolsey
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever noticed that during the Christmas Season, total strangers are often friendlier, more thoughtful and considerate? It seems that people mysteriously unite as a single family. We even have evidence in history where hostile enemies abandoned their animosity to be kind towards each other. For example, the Christmas Truce of WWI was a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front in 1914. On both sides of the horrible conflict, the soldiers joined to sing Christmas songs, play games, and share their food.
This annual spirit of kinship must surely represent Christ's mission, "He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household..." (Ephesians 2:17-19)
And what better way to unite the family of man than by the birth of a baby who was given to each and every one of us without distinction or discrimination? Just as Isaiah said, "For unto US a child is born, unto US a son is given..." (Isaiah 9:6)
This beloved Christmas birth was announced from the days of old Abraham, "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your Seed (Jesus Christ) all the FAMILIES of the earth shall be blessed.'" (Acts 3:25)
Did you see it?
God did not send this special baby to be claimed only by nations, but rather by individual families! Jesus Christ came into the world to be your son, grandson, brother, nephew, etc., in whatever capacity you need Him to be, "for unto US a child is born!"
God's goal, through Jesus Christ, was to be intimately associated and related to YOU. And by that personal kinship to God, we are also equally joined with every other human on earth, "for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
But the saddest misfortune probably ever witnessed in our society is to see a little baby unwanted and abandoned. Likewise, the same tragedy occurs when we refuse to accept the gift of God's Son, for "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11)
Please do not allow such a heartbreaking offense to occur in your life this Christmas. If you have never claimed Jesus as your own, then open your heart and accept the baby who came "to make all of us one," God and man together. (Galatians 3:28)
Merry Christmas