What does it mean? We take it so lightly; sing it so familiarly.
But it’s breathtaking. Astounding. Life changing.
God came down to earth as a baby.
What did Charles Wesley write? Our God contracted to span. Incomprehensibly made man.
He spoke the world into being. Forever, He has always been there, in an endless reality of abundant, loving life.
His voice holds all of us together.
He placed the stars in the sky; knit me together in the womb; holds all of our days in His hands.
The awesome, eternal, infinite God.
Think of space: the huge, wide, stunning expanse that goes on and on and still cannot begin to contain the God Who made it all.
Think of eternity.
Think of a Voice that spoke the universe into being.
Contracted to a span.
He grew in the womb. The cells divided. The embryo was formed. He grew there: His brain; His hands; His heart.
But He was God.
God Who was born in a mess of blood and tears as all of us were… the King Who was born into dirt and dust in a smelly stable.
But He was God.
God contracted to a span.
The words are so powerful: talking of hope for all who believe and follow Him:
“Let earth and Heaven combine,
Angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made Man.
He laid His glory by,
He wrapped Him in our clay;
Unmarked by human eye,
The latent Godhead lay;
Infant of days He here became,
And bore the mild Immanuel’s Name.
See in that Infant’s face
The depths of deity,
And labor while ye gaze
To sound the mystery
In vain; ye angels gaze no more,
But fall, and silently adore.
Unsearchable the love
That hath the Savior brought;
The grace is far above
Of men or angels’ thought:
Suffice for us that God, we know,
Our God, is manifest below.
He deigns in flesh t’appear,
Widest extremes to join;
To bring our vileness near,
And make us all divine:
And we the life of God shall know,
For God is manifest below.
Made perfect first in love,
And sanctified by grace,
We shall from earth remove,
And see His glorious face:
His love shall then be fully showed,
And man shall all be lost in God.”
Charles Wesley, ‘Let Earth and Heaven Combine’, public domain
God Who is not just infinite and vast and eternal (though He is).
God Who was willing to be made small.
God Who cares so very tenderly.
God Who is love.
So when I feel the pain of this world’s sting, so has He.
So when I feel alone and misunderstood, so has He.
So when I think no-one understands, He does.
He is God.
But He came close; was made small.
There He lay in the manger, with tiny lungs; tiny hands. Tiny cries of a newborn child.
God reaching out to us.
Coming so small; so vulnerable. Placing Himself at the mercy of this cruel, heartless world. Reaching out in a way that you and I could never have imagined.
‘6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.’ Philippians 2:6-7
The Son of God became one of us, because He loves us that much.
Take time. Make time. Kneel at the manger.
Gaze at Him; think of Him; love Him.
Baby Jesus lying in the manger. Your God, Who loves you that much.
Who gave Himself to make a way for you to come back to Him.
The God Who is with us now.
No matter your circumstances, may you meet with Him this Christmas and ever afterwards… and find all your heart has ever truly craved in Him.
Happy Christmas and God bless you!
(He gave Himself in the manger, and then on the cross, that you might know Him. When you come to Him, turn from wrong and receive the free forgiveness He offers, surrendering your life to follow Him, you will find the hope, forgiveness and eternal life He offers. He is reaching out to you now).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Caroline Abblitt 