A child...a very unique and special child...is the focal point of Christmas. God came from Heaven to experience human life...He bridged the gulf between Himself and the people He had made to reflect Him. Christmas is the point of entry and the point of fulfillment of God's promise to turn back the effect of Satan's infection of sin.
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But there is another child to consider at Christmas. This child is an adopted one. The adoption is necessary because the previous parent has been blocked from having authority over the child...it has been a parental abuse issue (here we refer to Satan!). Paul tells us about this child in Romans chapter 8. (starts in verse 15) "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"
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It took the arrival and the obedience of God's natural born son to make it possible for adoption proceedings to take place for you and me. Now that we, as believers in what God has done, have been adopted into His family, we have a sibling relationship with Jesus. He is now our brother. We are in the same family. And when Jesus is attacked...so are we. And when we are attacked because of Him....so is He attacked. We stick together with our unique brother. And we will have an inheritance!
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Romans 8:17 "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
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Adoption proceedings here on earth can be a long process before the child is placed with the new parents. And our Heavenly adoption is also in process:
Romans 8:23 "... we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
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But we look up to our older brother even before the adoption is absolutely done. We want to be like Him and our Heavenly Father is shaping us to be like Him. And we are now part of a very large and growing family:
Romans 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
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This Christmas let's consider that the babe in the manger can also be our brother, who has connected us to God's family...now and forevermore!
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blessings!
Rob Smith
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"Death is inevitable. Life is a choice!"
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
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