I just love how sweet this song by Chris Rice is. I sat down to write this post and this song came on my music stream and it just caught me. What a beautiful piece that so simply explains the Gospel, our strength in Christ, and God’s sovereignty. I posted the lyrics below in case you aren’t in a place where you can listen along.

This is what we are celebrating this Christmas. The gift that is Jesus Christ. God incarnate. He came to Earth in the most humble of forms: as a little baby. A sweet little child that would one day conquer sin in its entirety.

Luke 2:8-12 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  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.”

You might be at a place in your life where you question the virgin birth of Jesus. How could a woman just get pregnant like that? Maybe you think it is all made up. That’s ok. I would encourage you to keep on exploring that and asking questions. You might eventually end up where I did and realize that the only way that could happen was if God himself made it happen. (Which is exactly what did happen.) I can’t explain to you why God chose to do it this way, why He decided to use Mary, or why he thought being brought into the world as a baby was the best idea. I can tell you that I trust God fully that this was His plan, and so I celebrate this season knowing that God is always right; even when I think I might know better.

For me the story of the birth of Jesus was a turning point in turning back to God. I had walked away thinking that a virgin birth was an absurd way to cover up an illegitimate pregnancy. I followed that thought path for a while until I started to question why anyone or how anyone could go to this extent to cover up a pregnancy like that. Mary wasn’t anyone of cultural importance or social hierarchy so it didn’t make sense that this could all be one giant scandal. This made me question everything. It was too elaborate of a plan that had been carried out for way too long for it to be a cover up for a pregnancy of a woman who in the world’s eye was really not all that important. This left me to think one thing: maybe it was true?

I started down a journey of trying to figure out how it could be true, or maybe even to prove to myself that it wasn’t true. I wanted to find the reason that this whole thing had been made up. It turns out it wasn’t made up, and it wasn’t a cover up, and after getting to know God personally I had no answer other than it really was Him. He really did choose to come to Earth in the form of a tiny baby in order to save His people from their sin. Getting to know God’s character made me realize that He really is sovereign, and good, and just, and awesome. Knowing Him changed my perspective on everything.

I can’t say that I understood this all at once. It took time. Getting to know God takes time. You don’t just read a Bible verse and suddenly understand who God is. That would be like reading a blip on a profile online of someone you don’t know at all and thinking you now know them based on that one piece you saw. You have to cultivate the relationship. You have to seek, ask, knock, and question. The best part is that unlike people who can choose to get to know you back or not, God will ALWAYS answer. He will always respond. He will always reveal himself to those who ask.

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.“

Verse 1
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

*a bulwark is a defensive wall

Verse 2
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

Verse 3
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

Verse 4
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.