Now I don't want to get off on a rant here...

Offenses of Christmas

The idea that an omnipotent and omnipresent being could condescend to our reality, taking on the fragile form that we hold and not only subject himself to this world, but to the same physical growth process that we all go through offends our sense of logic. Speaking from the flesh, there is no rational reason why the almighty would put themselves in such an apparently weak vessel. The human mind cannot comprehend the thought that leads to such a humble act of obedience and love. We cannot even forgive ourselves for the bad that we have done, let alone understand forgiveness that is found in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Yet the magic of Christmas is not realized in a man delivering presents to all the world's children in a matter of hours. The magic is realized in the compassion of Christ to enter into our lives as a human being, to live a perfect life and sacrifice his life for our eternal assurance of salvation. Offensive to our sense of logic and our own personal love of the self, the Christmas story teaches us of compassion, love, humility and obedience.

Colossians 1:19-20
For it pleased the Father that in Him [Jesus Christ] all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

We are assured our eternal peace through the first steps of Christ taken on Christmas day to the cross. May the Holy Spirit illuminate our hearts more and more each day to find the offense of Christmas, the offense of the Gospel, the offense to our flesh less and less, and the beautiful message of forgiveness and redemption more real, more enticing to our humanity.