25 Days of Advent: Forged for our Hope – Day 25

With steady fingers, every last gift was carefully wrapped with bright bows gracing the top of each box. Laid beneath the sparkly tree, they are arranged just so with the most extravagant gift hidden at the back to be opened last. Stockings are stuffed nearly overflowing the top, and the preparations for a feast already put into motion. A flurry of activity awaits pregnant with the anticipation of glee and delight, the camera ready to capture every memory for one to look back upon with fondness and nostalgia.

Christmas morning. The artwork of a mother’s heart.

This day is the day we choose to celebrate the birth of our beloved Saviour. This day is the day that the most extravagant gift of all was unwrapped by the hands of God.

The spirit of Christmas. The artwork of the Father’s heart.

In the Old Testament, it was foretold that the Messiah would be born in a town called Bethlehem, the first messianic prophecy being that He would be born unto a woman:

Micah 5:2, But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.

Genesis 3:15, And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.

Jesus fulfilled these promises as recorded in the both the Gospel of Luke and the Epistle to the Galatians, a letter from the Apostle Paul to the early Christians in Galatia:

Luke 2:4-6, So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.

Galatians 4:4, But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.

A baby boy was born, the greatest gift bestowed unto a lost and dying world. He came as one of us with flesh upon His bones and a soul that would experience the complexities of humanity. Yet He came as God’s Son, one without sin who would draw God’s people unto Himself so that God would always be among them.

We are forged for our hope so that we may die unto our own flesh and experience the gift of an abundant life in Jesus. We are forged for our hope so that we may take our eyes off of ourselves and place them securely upon the throne of the one true God. And we are forged for our hope so that we may never forget that it doesn’t end here. There is life everlasting beyond what we experience in this world. There are great plans and purposes for us to fulfill so that we may rise into heaven with a crown placed atop our heads and the words of our Saviour embedded deep within our hearts.

May we always remember why we celebrate this day we call Christmas, and why we count down the days called Advent. In anticipation of His extravagance, let us keep our heads held high seeking His presence to descend from the clouds calling His faithful church to His side.

We are forged for our hope so that we may hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” We are forged for our hope so that our knee will bow and our tongue shall confess that He is Lord. And we are forged for our hope so that the world who watches will witness the power of Christ at work.

We are forged not for us, but for Him.

Father, though the bottom of the tree is full of presents and the table overflows with a bounty of blessing, thank you for your Son Jesus whom you sent as the greatest gift of all. We are forged for Christ and the hope we have in Him for the abundant life that you have promised. In Jesus name, amen.