"See what great love the Father has given us, that we should be called the children of God; and that is what we are." – 1 John 3:1
The greatest blessing of all is simply that we are children of God, loved by the one who set the stars in motion, who spent billions of years just to prepare a place for us, that we might grow up into the image of our divine parent. Throughout scripture the message repeats over and over.
"You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you." – Isaiah 43:1-4
God's message to us this day is the same as it was to Jesus on the day of his baptism.
"You are my beloved child with you I am well pleased." – Mark 1:11
Truly this is the greatest blessing, the greatest gift of all!
But how do we respond to this gift? The Christmas season gives us lots of great examples. How do you know when a gift is well received and truly appreciated? A thank you is nice but you really know your gift is appreciated if the person receiving it immediately puts it to use. The toy put back in its box, the sweater never worn, the article immediately exchanged, these tell you that your gift wasn't really treasured by the recipient.
So there is more to receiving God's blessing than just our hearing it. We must make it ours by living out its purpose. When God blesses Abraham in the first of the great blessings of scripture, God says, "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." – Genesis 12:2-3 We are called upon to be a blessing to others. We are called to grow up into the loving image of the one who loves us.
"Love one another as I have loved you." – John 15:12
We are called not just to enjoy peace on earth. We are called to help bring peace on earth.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." – Mattew 5:9
And we are called to love all the families of the earth, even the least, the lost and the unlovable.
"Love your enemies... , and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." – Luke 6:35
Now none of this is possible without the blessing, the gift of the Holy Spirit poured into us by the one who comes at Christmas. But if we would truly receive this blessing we must use the gift as it was intended. We receive love. We give love. We receive love. We give love. And that loving never ends.
"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you." – Isaiah 54:10
This is the blessing of Christmas. God bless us everyone!
