Incarnation...a big word simply meaning God with skin on Him; God in the flesh. Tangible God, that we can see, touch, hear and experience in this physical world with our physical senses. That is the essence of Christmas! God's plan, God's purpose, God's wisdom framed from the beginning, now revealed; once secret and hidden, now unwrapped.
I think that's where we got the idea of Christmas secrets, plans, gifts and things wrapped, to later be opened, given, for all to be surprised; love felt for others, disclosed on Christmas Day! Wow! What a gift was unwraped in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus...and for what purpose?
According to I Corinthians 2:6-10 (esp. vs. 7, 8) to bring us to our full glory, our greatest potential, to bring us back to God's intended best when He created us in the beginning, before sin came. Romans 8:29, 30 says it another way; that Jesus was God's firstborn who represented God's likeness and it is His intent that we be like Him, displaying God's likeness as well. That's incarnation, again. God's likeness in the person of Jesus and now, through Him, God's likeness shown clearly through you! That's Christmas and should be happening everyday in us all!
So, when you're looking at a manger this season, remember that first it was about God coming in the flesh through Jesus. But today, it's about God coming in the flesh through you. Yes, God's intent is to keep revealing himself in tangible ways to the world. He did it in Jesus and the story continues in you! May this be the greatest "Christmas" ever for you and yours.
Blessings,
Mitch
