"PONDERING THE PARADOXES OF CHRISTMAS"

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation , and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."  
(Philippians 2:6-8)

Yesterday, as I sat for a long time just thinking about the events of the last few day... Christmas Eve / Christmas Day / The beautiful snow falling / Going to look at Christmas Lights / Time with family and friends / Missing our daughter and her family who are serving the Lord as Missionaries in Thailand / and The Reason for the Season... I couldn't help but ponder the fact of all the Paradoxes found in the Christmas Story.  


(Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 2:1-35)  

Paradox meaning: statements that seem to contradict each other but when examined together reveal a greater truth.  

Below are just a few that I'd like to share:

• An all powerful God - came in the form of a helpless Child.
• With the magnificence of a King - but was found in the humility of a stable.
• Represented the limitlessness of God - but was confined to the womb of a woman.
• There was no room for Him - in a World that He had created.
• He left His Heavenly Throne - for an earthly manger.
• He traded robes of splendor - for swaddling clothes.
• He was not born to live - but born to die.
• His death - brings us life.  

While even thinking upon these things I was convicted by the Holy Spirit of "paradoxes" in my own life.  

• I who am most forgiven - harbors unforgiveness in my heart toward others.
• I who am a child of the King and whose Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills - grumbles of things that I don't have.
• I who am fearfully and wonderfully made - complains about the way I look and things that I don't like about myself.
• I whose steps are ordered by the Lord - moans about the path that I am on.

The "paradox" that has changed my life the most:

• He who was without sin - died on the cross... So that I, chiefest of sinners - could receive eternal life. 

We can learn so much from the Paradoxes of Christmas:
We should not judge things by appearance, because God hid His greatest gift in a humble package.  We should not judge an end by its beginning, because the babe in the manger will one day return in full glory.  AMEN