The Christmas season is especially significant for those of us who are followers of Christ. The birth, life, death and resurrection of the Son of God brought something to us that we are incapable of completely understanding. Our eternal salvation, found only in Jesus Christ, became a reality on that first Christmas. As the angel of the Lord said, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
But why was Jesus born on the earth? Why wasn’t our salvation simply assured in Heaven without having Jesus soil His hands and feet on this planet? Why did God come to earth in a physical form? Simply put… because He DESIRED to! He desired to “get inside our skin”. That’s what you do when you really love someone. You desire to be intimate with them. You want to experience life, to an ever increasing degree, through your relationship with them. God desired to share in the experience of human life with us. As Pastor John Ortberg writes, “The story of the Bible isn’t primarily about the desire of people to be with God; it’s the desire of God to be with people.”
I believe that same type of desire is what compelled the early Christian Church to come together. I don’t think they were necessarily seeking to hear anointed sermons presented by high profile leaders such as the Apostles. I doubt that they were longing for programs to help those with financial difficulties or folks trying to work through the pain of death or divorce. It’s not likely that parents simply wanted a place for their offspring to hear about Jesus while the youngest babes were tenderly watched over by loving friends. No thought may have been given to the level of skill possessed by the artists in their midst and how their hymns might appeal to their personal musical tastes.
I think the first Christians probably assembled for one main purpose; to be in “community” with others whom they felt drawn into relationship with. They “desired” to relate at a deeper level than a casual conversation; a nod of the head while passing on the street; an occasional email message. Their newfound faith in Christ certainly was a catalyst for their assemblies, but my guess is that they instinctively knew that this Power could only be properly experienced and grow in a social setting. I don’t think they went to church because of what they might get out of it, or even what they felt able to put into it. They came together because they were drawn by “desire”; a desire to relate more intimately; a desire planted and nurtured by the Holy Spirit; a desire to experience Christ in community; a desire for relationship, perfectly manifested in the Incarnation!
I pray that this Christmas season we all find ourselves filled with the desire to experience life outside of ourselves; that the deep sacrifice which God made because of His desire to be with us would compel us- drive us forward- to see our church family through the eyes of Jesus, and cause us to grow deeper in love- in desire- with each other.
Rita and I are filled with desire to help others see God in such a living relationship. We want to thank you for standing by us as we use this desire to “be the Gospel” to the impoverished people of Appalachia. Christmas is all about the expression of relational desire. “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son…” A most blessed celebration of the Incarnation to you all!
