Incarnation Love

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, [and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father,] full of grace and truth.”  So recorded John in Jn.1:14.   What a fantastically wise plan of God concocted before the universe was even created !  That God Himself would take on humanity and walk and talk among us so that He would be the perfect substitute for our sins.

Most of us by now have probably heard of the atheistic group in Wisconsin desiring to remove the nativity scene in a small town in Texas. A man representing the atheists when asked by a reporter why such a display was so offensive to him responded that it means he is a sinner headed to hell and he is personally offended by that.  From a hard hearted human vantage point I can understand the atheist’s argument, the whole idea of Christ becoming a man to pay for our sins does offend the pride of the sinner.  But from God’s perspective the incarnation reveals an entirely different view: we have offended God yet He chooses to not lash back but love back !!   And the best way to pierce the calloused heart of the unbeliever is to respond in kind with “incarnation love”.  That’s precisely what Jesus Christ did over 2000 years ago and still does every time a sinner curses Him or a believer strays from Him.

How many times have you read or heard about such attacks on Christmas only to “curse” the unbelievers?  How about when it hits closer to home and you take a stand for Christ in some way you are dissed for it?  Our first inclination usually is to lash back in some way, yet the incarnated Lord verbalized in His great sermon on the mount that He wants us to “LOVE your enemies, bless them which curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”  (Mt.5:44).   Oh the enemies of Christmas, the incarnation and the Christ we love are getting bolder, our tact should be the Lord’s to be believing still: Love them in ways He has commanded us to do ! With “incarnation love” !!!   How about praying for those Wisconsin folks today? The Lord died for them too.  What about that person in your life who has given you grief in some way, why not get them a gift or do something nice for them and say its for Christmas??  Let that “incarnation love” work on them through YOU !!