God’s Christmas Gift to the World.Sample

God Comes Safely to Us

by Rev. Kenley Mann

There once lived a farmer who became jaded about Christmas and became a recluse to avoid Christians. Late one winter night, he heard a thumping against the back porch door. To his surprise, birds that had a nest in a nearby tree were flying against the glass. It was so cold out that if any living thing, including animals, didn’t have shelter, it could die. His heart went out to them.

He put on his winter wear and sprinkled crackers from their tree to the barn, where he built a nest of hay. He went to shoo them in, but they retreated into the dark. To the birds, he was something to be afraid of.

He thought, If I could only become a bird, then they would not be afraid. I could lead them to shelter, and they would live. Just then, church bells began to ring in the distance. The farmer suddenly remembered after checking the date that it was Christmas morning.

At that moment, he grasped the true meaning of Christmas. God could have come in all of His glory, but if He did, like the birds, we would have only been afraid and retreated. Instead, He came safely to us as The Son of Man. He continues to come to us safely through His word, to be the life-giving light in His word. Jesus answered for our sins with His death and took our place, acting in perfect obedience to God.

If you wonder why God does not come Himself but rather calls messengers like Ezekiel, a “son of man,” to speak His words, remember this story. Hear God’s word as it really is: God Himself speaking to us safely.

Prayer: We praise You for coming to us first not in blazing glory, for we would have thought you came to destroy us and would have run away in fear. Thank you for coming to us safely as The Son of Man. Give us reassurance that You are still coming to us safely when our ears hear your called human beings sharing Your word with us. Amen.