Christmas Eve

I am one of those preachers who feels the need to always be summarizing the faith for people. I want you to know what it means for your life in a clear and concise way. This isn't always the best way to preach, but it is part of my calling. I have to leave the stories to other preachers who do that better than I do.

So here it is. At tonight's Christmas Eve service, I will read the great text of John 1:1-14, and hear how the Word became flesh. Our theological term is incarnation. This Advent I have been doing sermons on incarnation, God taking God's own place in human life in Jesus of Nazareth. On this wonderful night, these conclusions:

God is for us, not against us. This really matters. If you believe God is against you, not much good is going to happen in your life. God has entered human life for you, and to carry Paul's thought forward, if God is for you, who can be against you?

God is found in ordinary life. This matters, too. Most people see themselves as too flawed to have much contact with God, but incarnation assures us that human life is holy. God is most reliably found in your daily routine.

God has a plan. The Bible is very plain that this incarnation is not some afterthought, nor some stopgap measure. God had this in mind all along, and it means you are part of a grand plan that includes the whole world. How is that for making your life more interesting?

Ponder this on Christmas Eve, because no matter what else you may be doing these truths are the basis for who you are. They make the rest of the year every bit as special as Christmas.