The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’). Matthew 1:23, NIV

 

December. There are Christmas decorations everywhere, fruitcakes on shop shelves and Christmas carols playing in shopping centres. All intended to remind us that Christmas is around the corner. Although the goal may be to convince people to spend more money on Christmas shopping than they planned, the festivity is still fitting. We should indeed celebrate the birth of Jesus with joy, as long as we remember what the joy is truly about.

 

When Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, he became human in our world – in humility. There in the stable the wise men from the East found him. “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

 

Thus, Jesus grew up and moved among all the other people as a human being.

 

God with us.

 

So, this is our reassurance, that God was among people then and is still with us today. He was truly human, and constantly treated the people around him with compassion. An example for all of us. An example of humility and of gentleness. We see this continually in the way that he interacts with people and the choices he makes.

 

Let us follow his example in this Christmas season. Let us live humbly and with empathy. Let us celebrate his birth with joy while we also worship him, as is fitting.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us humility and empathy in this Christmas season and make us aware that you are always with us. Amen