Be Born In Us Today

In Phillips Brooks' Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem," we find the prayer of a true believer:

That prayer takes on a profound meaning when we see it in the light of Colossians 1. In vv. 15–20, the Apostle Paul cited a majestic hymn that described Jesus as the one in, through, and for whom all things were created. The hymn concluded by declaring that Jesus is the ultimate reconciler of all. Following that, Paul pointed out that all of us need to be reconciled personally to God. Truthfully (and painfully), he declared that the reason why we need forgiveness is that we were "alienated from God and were enemies in our minds because of our evil behavior" (v. 21). But, praise be to the grace of God, through faith in Jesus, we can find peace with God. Indeed, we are told that when we are in Christ, we someday will be "holy in God's sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (v. 22).

But, how can that be? We know ourselves. We know how often we continue to fall short of the glory for which God has created us.

Today, we will see God's mystery to redeem us, revealed in Colossians 1:27: Christ in you, the hope of glory!
This wonderful gift of the majestic Christ's presence in us surely has a personal application. It is the promise of "Immanuel," meaning "God is with us." We will meditate on that this Christmas Sunday morning 2012.

However, the "you" is plural in v. 27; the specific lesson God's Word is teaching us is that God brings us to completion as he does his work in the community of his church. In the life of the church we are to experience God's love (Eph. 3:17b–19) and build one another up to become complete in Christ (Eph. 4:11–16).

As you prepare to worship today, consider the observation of historian Michael Green in his book Living the Story. He wrote about what Paul saw in churches like the one in Colossae:

In the fellowship of Christians were associations in which aristocrats and slaves, Roman citizens and provincials, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, men and women mixed without distinction and on equal terms. Here were societies that possessed a quality of care and love that amazed and attracted those who saw it... It was a harmony that demonstrated something of the unity-in-diversity of the God they worshiped.

May it also be among us to His Glory,

Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor