There are only a few days left until Christmas. I am trying hard to keep Christ at the center of my focus, but it’s hard. I so quickly get caught up in the busyness, the stress, the events, the gifts, etc. I especially get caught up in all the delicious eating! Hey, don’t judge! This girl loves to eat!

I have to force myself to slow down and get away to a quiet place. There I meet with my Lord. I read His Word and let His truth wash over my soul once again.

Just as we must take time to cleanse our physical bodies, we also need to carve out time to cleanse our spiritual bodies with the pure water of the Word of God. 

I want to share another excerpt from Max Lucado’s book God Came Near. I have really enjoyed rereading it this Christmas. He is such an incredibly gifted writer.

When God chose to reveal himself to mankind, what medium did he use? A book? No, that was secondary. A church? No. That was consequential. A moral code? No. To limit God’s revelation to a cold list of do’s and don’ts is as tragic as looking at a Colorado roadmap and saying that you’d seen the Rockies.

When God chose to reveal himself, he did so (surprise of surprises) through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails. The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And his tears…oh, don’t miss the tears…they came from a heart as broken as yours and mine ever has been.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.”

So, people came to him. My, how they came to him! They came at night; they touched him as he walked down the street; they followed him around the sea; they invited him into their homes and placed their children at his feet. Why? Because he refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated pulpit. He chose instead to be Jesus.

There is not a hint of one person who was afraid to draw near him. There were those who mocked him. There were those who were envious of him. There were those who misunderstood him. There were those who revered him. But there was not one person who considered him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected.

Remember that.

Remember that the next time you find yourself amazed at your own failures.

Or the next time acidic accusations burn holes in your soul.

Or the next time you see a cold cathedral or hear a lifeless liturgy.

Remember. It is man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge.

~Max Lucado God Came Near

I hope you find time today to get away from all the hustle and bustle of Christmas…to get away to a quiet place and get alone with the Lord. Draw near to Him. Let His love and truth wash over you and refocus your mind and heart on what truly matters. Him.

Jesus.

Immanuel.

God with us.

A touchable God.

He’s waiting for YOU!

 

Click on the link below to listen to 5 minute daily advent podcasts. It is “The Word” series. They are outstanding! Worth every second of your time!

https://www.24-7prayer.com/podcasts