It’s easy to take words for granted. How often we hear the term awesome connected to the ordinary. It belongs to the extraordinary. The word actually means “to inspire an overwhelming feeling of reverence or fear” but slang has replaced it with “very cool.”
The Word became flesh – if there was ever an awesome event, this is it. Wonder and astonishment belong to the Christmas story when Omnipotence left celestial comfort and the praise of angels to reside in a human womb, to live and die for mankind, from crèche to cross.
Awesome. The birth of hope after God’s silence.
Consider the magnitude of what happened at the real life nativity scene recorded in the gospel of Luke. Angel visits leading up to the wondrous – Zachariah, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, the wonderstruck mystery we try and define.
When faith and sight collide it makes for wonder.
Isaiah wrote an amazing description of how things would be altered with the birth of the Messiah. The whole point of Jesus birth, life, and death was to change the world – radically – because it would instill hope in the lives of generations forever.
So, why doesn’t it?
Christmas can be one of the most difficult times of the year. The news is a constant reminder that we dwell on a desperate planet. And then, we hear of horrific situations and tragedies closer to home and despair seems to become more visible than blessing.
It’s hard to find joy when we focus on what we don’t have – finances, health, relationships. Christmas can get buried beneath circumstances.
So, what can we do?
Change our gaze. See and believe as a child. Believe in the extravagant reason Jesus came to earth – to save us and bring light into a dark place.
Within the broken pieces glitters the glory of hope and shards of wonder that can change our perspective.
Awesome.
Verna
Glenda Mills says
December 16, 2014 at 5:40 pmBeautiful Verna,
Reminds me of something our associate pastor shared on Sunday. We need to keep our gaze on Jesus. We may glance at what’s going on around us, but its most important to remember who Jesus is and why He came…especially when death and dying are all around us and our families.
The first of the recent shootings happened a block away from our son’s home.
Prayer changes our worries to worship, because we recognize the Most High God is ruling and reigning in the hearts of those who seek Him. Praying for your area.
Marlene Bagnull says
December 17, 2014 at 11:20 amThank you, Verna, for your words that speak powerfully to the need to keep our eyes on Jesus in the midst of the horrific events of the past two days. Father, please bring Your peace to our troubled world and hold close those who are grieving the loss of family and friends in Pakistan, Yeman, Sydney, and Montgomery County, PA.