On this wonderful day, we sit in awe as we think about the birth of our Savior.

It is a soul-warming thought that He reached down into our world, clothed Himself with flesh and blood, and moved into our neighborhood.

Take a few moments to behold His glory, Who allowed Himself to be laid in a manger that He might willingly lay His life upon the Cross.

This miraculous arrival is the most significant birth in world history and is full of grace and truth. Indeed, “nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation” (J. I. Packer). 

As we reflect on the blessings of Advent, let’s ponder 3 brief reasons why our Lord came precisely as He did.

First, we find the reason called alienation.

There was no room in the inn for this young family. John said it best when he wrote, “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto his own, and His own received Him not” (1:11). Simply put, He was alienated from the very ones He came to redeem. But today, we can intentionally make room for Him in every room of our lives and experience the blessings of advent and personal redemption.

Then we move to the reason known as association.

God with us means that He moved into our world to associate with humanity. We ought to be so grateful that our Savior has thoroughly identified with the poverty and problems of our world. “Though he was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that by His poverty we might become rich” (Second Corinthians 8:9). And what a blessed thought that “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He knows my name and ever since He moved into my life, He has never forsaken me. And He’s been the only friend that can truly identify with my every movement.

Lastly, there is the gracious reason we know as accessibility.

In many courts throughout history, subjects were never permitted to be in the presence of their king. But King Jesus invites us in. That was His way throughout His earthly stay among us. Accessible to the blue-collar shepherds, devout Simeon, Anna the prophetess, and wise men from the East alike, our Savior is available to whosoever will come. And even now, He leaves open the door to His throne room. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). He moved among us so that we could freely access His presence, in any time of need.

Praise God! Whosoever will can find all they will ever need in the presence of Jesus Christ.

During this time of year, we celebrate the many blessings of the first advent. But chief among them is the blessing of being able to experience His coming into your own life in a personal manner. And this is the only way to be prepared for His second coming. The blessed hope of every individual at Christmas is realizing that He “came into the world to save sinners” (First Timothy 1:15).

In closing this mid-December post, we are reminded that “Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man” (Vance Havner).

As our gifts to you, we leave you with a simple smile, and from our hearts to your homes, we wish you a Merry Christmas.