Learning to live by the indwelling life of Christ.
It is Christ’s death and resurrection alone that saves us. These are the two heroic acts that rescue us from the darkness and carry us into the light. Christ’s death saves us from guilt, fear, slavery, sin, death, strife, eternal sorrow, and brokenness, and Christ’s resurrection saves us into innocence, boldness, freedom, love, life, peace, eternal joy, and relationship. Into “to live is Christ.”
His name is our name now. His name is written on our hearts. Yahweh saves is who we are and what we do. His name shared with us in Christ. His name written upon our hearts making “to live is Christ” our identity, our mission, our glory, forever. Amen.
By becoming the curse for us he ended the curse of sin and death in the life of every Christian. That’s what Christmas is all about – curse breaking and blessing giving. That’s what our union with Christ is all about too, like Jeconiah the curse is broken and the blessing has come, not just on the outside, but inside our hearts.
God’s answer to Joseph is the same answer that we have all heard. God with us is now “to live is Christ.” The end of all our confusion. The answer to all of life’s questions.
As we think about the birth of Christ, may we remember that that humble baby in a manger is the lord of our lives who guides our hearts to follow God in his same humble submission. The humility of Josiah, the humility of Christ, now the humility that we share in him.
“To live is Christ” means that we, like Mary, have Christ in us. And we, like Mary, are on a journey of faith, dependence, and commitment. May our songs this Christmas magnify the Lord, declaring the salvation of God in Christ his son. Amen.
To Live is Christ 