Read Psalm 147:1-11. 1Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. 2The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 6The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. 7Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 8He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. 9He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. 10His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
The incarnation is the miracle of miracles. Not only is it God breaking the laws of nature like parting a sea or raining bread from the heavens, but God is breaking into nature to become flesh. Nothing else will ever compare to the truth that Jesus was (and is) simultaneously divine and human.
The Son who was the brokenhearted Jesus was still healing the brokenhearted as God.
The Son who became the humble Jesus was still lifting the humble as God.
The Son who had to look up at the majesty of the stars as Jesus was still numbering and naming the stars as God.
The Son who had to learn wisdom and understanding as Jesus was full of understanding beyond measure as God.
The Son who depended on the rain for food as Jesus was preparing the rain for the Earth as God.
The Son who had to rely on God and others for his daily bread was giving food to all the beasts of the Earth as God.
To live is Christ is to trust that this God-Man is alive in us. Not only modeling life for us, but sustaining life for us. Creating life in us. The receiver was first and always the giver. Now we, the receivers, can be the givers too.
You: What amazes you about the incarnation?
You in Christ: How does knowing Christ is both God and man encourage you?
Christ in you: How can you share Christ with others today?
Prayer. Jesus, All I have both physically and spiritually is from you. You sustain the universe and you sustain my heart. I want to receive from you, and then give you. Help me. Amen.
To Live is Christ 