Post Tagged with: "12DoC"

That Mystery of Love

Love: the first fruit of the Spirit, the great mystery of the ages, incomprehensible to the human mind – the pinnacle of the First Christmas, the intangible essence to physical senses yet profoundly evident to the soul.

Love is everywhere at Christmas time, the very nature of the Christmas Spirit itself.

Yet the mystery of love is none other than the Baby in the manger.

How strange it is that the mystery can be spoken and revealed in a single sentence so simple as that one, and yet the depth of that sentence encompasses all time, space, emotion, truth, and reality of the ages. Even the wisest earthly sage cannot fully unravel the mystery, and yet even a small child may know it.

Truly the Kingdom of Heaven and earth unite in this moment. As the Baby is born, Deity transcends Heaven and enters Earth. Love is truly born to that humble Jewish couple. All love on earth originates in the Person of that Child.

All the kind deeds, all charity, all benevolence, all generosity, all tender feelings under the name of Love stem from the person of Love. When He was born on earth, Love touched us. It unified its kingdom – for His kingdom is one of love – with the earth that was originally designed to breathe and live and cycle Love yet through sin severed the love-cord binding it to its Source.

Think of the matchless sacrifice of Jesus Christ in this act. He left the face to face presence of His Father to be born on this earth – this earth with its pain, grief, misery, and sin. He took upon Him the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, and became obedient to the death of the cross.

This is Love.

He is Love.

And we love because He first loved us.

That’s the spirit of Christmas. That’s the spirit of heaven. That’s the Holy Spirit manifesting Jesus Christ through us.

And how beautifully that is summed up in this old Christmas hymn from the 1700s:

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Savior of the world was born.
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God Incarnate and the Virgin’s Son.

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the angelic herald’s voice, “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Savior’s birth
To you and all the nations upon earth;
This day hath God fulfilled His promised word;
This day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.”

He spake; and straightway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven’s whole orb with alleluias rang.
God’s highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon earth, and unto men good will.

To Bethlehem straight th’ enlightened shepherds ran
To see the wonder God had wrought for man
And found, with Joseph and the blessed maid,
Her Son, the Savior, in a manger laid;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return.
And their glad hearts with holy rapture burn.

Oh, may we keep and ponder in our mind
God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross,
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man’s first heavenly state again takes place.

Then may we hope, th’ angelic hosts among,
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song.
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display.
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven’s almighty King.

Come back tomorrow for Why So Joyful, World?

Find the rest of today’s Twelve Days of Christmas party posts here

Enter the giveaway here.

The Fruit of the Christmas Spirit

 

 

You’ve heard of the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22-23

But have you heard of the fruit of the Christmas Spirit?

(Hint: it’s the same Spirit. And thus the same fruit.)

Yet how do love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance play out in our lives specifically during the Christmas season? How has God revealed Himself to us in each of these areas through the birth of Jesus Christ?

These are questions we’ll answer over the next nine days. Today’s post is a broad overview – a small picture of the Spirit’s fruit as a whole.

 Read more

What’s That Christmas Spirit We Love?

Merry Christmas!

December . . . the very word conjures thoughts of Christmas: hoping for snow . . . family . . . Christmas lights . . . cookies . . . pine trees . . . shopping for the perfect thoughtful gift for a loved one . . . joy, love, smiles, cheer . . . Christmas carols on repeat . . . Christmas movies, Christmas sweaters, Christmas cards, Christmas books, Christmas stockings . . . candlelight Christmas Eve services . . . caroling . . .  quiet snowy nights . . . Advent traditions . . . anticipation . . . the Christmas story, nativity, and wonder of the birth of the Savior. The very term Christmas evokes warmth and goodwill. It’s a time of year when everyone seems to be extra benevolent, when smiles and greetings from strangers are natural, when everyone longs to do something a bit extra-special with and for loved ones.

The Christmas Spirit. 

Charity. Kindness. Benevolence. Joy. Generosity. Cheer. Love.

Some might frame it in commercial or materialistic terms. Some are content to merely embrace it. Some prolong it, pushing their celebrations earlier in the year to capture a bit more of the wonder of the season.

Yet what is the true Christmas Spirit? And how ought we as followers of Jesus Christ to approach this in our lives?

As we count down to Christmas Day 2018, we’re going to address these questions.

 Read more

Twelve Days of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . 

 

Our true Love, Yahweh God our Father, has sent us the amazing gifts of the fruit of the Spirit through His Son! In the days leading up to Christmas, we’ll be taking a closer look at each of these gifts, illustrated through the old Christmas carols.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming right here to Resting Life on December 14-25!

 

What’s That Christmas Spirit We Love? // Deck The Halls

The Fruit of the Christmas Spirit // Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

That Mystery of Love // Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn // Love

Why So Joyful, World? // Joy to the World! // Joy

The Peace of Our Daily Chaos // Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light // Peace

Everyday Christmas // O Little Town of Bethlehem // Patience

The Song of a Song // It Came Upon a Midnight Clear // Kindness

Every Night Holy // O Holy Night // Goodness

Mirrored Faith // O Come, O Come Emmanuel // Faithfulness

Let’s Call It Gentleness // Away in a Manger // Gentleness

Not-So-Silent Night // Silent Night // Self-Control

Great Tidings We Bring // We Wish You a Merry Christmas
A blessed season of Christmas preparation – and rejoicing in the good news of Jesus Christ! – to you and yours!