Pastor Jon Verwey
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Maybe it’s not about presents but about presence—God’s presence.
The true wonder of Christmas is hope realized through God’s presence with us, transforming how we love and live.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” — Jeremiah 31:31–34 (NIV)
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God…— Galatians 3:10–11 (NIV)
…I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people — Jeremiah 31:33b (NIV)1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. — Romans 8:1, 3-4 (NIV)
“Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because ‘the righteous will live by faith.’” — Galatians 3:11 (NIV)
And this is what makes the wonder of Christmas so profound: hope is truly realized through God’s presence with us, transforming how we love and live.
This Christmas season…
… let your peaceful moments come from being in the presence of Jesus.
This Christmas season…
… let your joy and celebration be about Jesus, who is Emmanuel- God with us.
This Christmas season…
… let your gift giving be about reflecting the generous nature of God the Father, who gave the greatest gift every given, His son, Jesus Christ, that we may be with Him and have eternal life.
This Christmas season…
… let your time with family and friends be about showing the great, inexhaustible love of God to them as people created in His image.
This Christmas season…
… let your wonder, excitement and anticipation be about the final day—that glorious day—when Jesus will come back, and we will see Him face to face.
This is the wonder of Christmas: hope realized through God’s presence with us, and a love so great it transforms how we love and live—now and forever. Amen!