the gift of light: heaven kisses earth with a savior

@stickyJesus: how to live out your faith online, by Tami Heim and Toni Birdsong, is a book about how to infuse God’s heartbeat into social networks. This post is part of the @stickyJesus Blog Tour of Light. You can follow @stickyJesus on Twitter, Facebook, or learn more about the book at www.stickyJesus.com.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:9-12, NIV

In this verse Luke passionately writes of the “good news,” and “great joy” of Jesus’ birth. It was the most magnificent event in the history of the world.

A torrent of mystery and hope pulsated through the land. A miracle was in the making and nothing added up. There was an angel, a virgin, a brilliant star, magi, and a child in a stable painted with heaven’s dew. Light hushed the havoc of a tattered planet. The newborn’s cry severed the darkness and the promise of new life flooded every crevice of humanity.

Heaven kissed earth with the gift of a Savior. And nothing has ever been the same.

Things happened that night—wonderful and remarkable things. God’s Gift of Light entered the ring on behalf of every man, woman, and child beaten down by sin. That night one baby boy turned the world on end, baffled the wise, and single-handedly declared war on the forces of hell.

It’s easy to love Christmas. Our spirits rouse, hearts stir, and hope awakens our routine. It’s almost . . . magical. But in just a few weeks, it’s over. We soon pack Christmas neatly into boxes and it isn’t long before melancholy edges out our joy.

What just happened? We heard the story. We sang the songs. But did we really ever really make it to the manger?

Author Hannah Whitall Smith contends in her 1870 book, The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life, that even in light of salvation, the Christian life—as it is generally lived—is not entirely a happy life. “A keen observer once said to me, ‘You Christians seem to have a religion that makes you miserable. You are like a man with a headache. He does not want to get rid of his head but it hurts him to keep it. You cannot expect outsiders to seek very earnestly for anything so uncomfortable.”’

She offers that “Christ is believed in, talked about and served, but He is not known as the soul’s actual and very life abiding there forever, and revealing Himself continually in His beauty.”

We hang onto Christmas tightly when we—like the rest of the world—are convinced it only comes once a year. How quickly our emotions dive when our knowledge of God eclipses our pursuit to know God.

God sent His son to achieve more than simply your belief in Him. He sent His son to possess the very depths of your heart. Christ is a holy invitation to abide, dwell, and live in the Light of God’s presence every day.

The manger marks a brand new day and an opportunity for eternal fellowship with almighty God. Will you meet Him there?

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The manger marks a brand new day and an opportunity for eternal fellowship with almighty God. Will you meet Him there? #LiveSticky

Learn more about our guest bloggers and their new book, @stickyJesus: how to live out your faith online at www.stickyJesus.com.