Incredible!

Luke 5 is an awe-inspiring chapter of incredible moments.

• After an all-nighter when they haven’t had a bite, the disciples catch a miraculous load of fish at Jesus’ direction.
• A leper is cleansed by just one touch from Jesus.
• A paralyzed man is lowered through the roof to the Lord’s feet and healed.
• Matthew, a despised tax collector, is called to follow the sinless Christ and does.

All in a day’s work for the Son of God but mind-blowing for “run of the mill” humans like us. The activities were so marvelous, halfway through the chapter, Luke needed to insert a “hold on a minute” declaration to describe the scene:

Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today” (Luke 5:26).

Be on the lookout for the incredible, the magnificent, and the miraculous this Christmas! God is always up to breathtaking works. At every turn, God is working in awe-inspiring ways, and this year will not disappoint.

We will see much of the tension present in our world in the first eleven months turn to calls for peace during this time. Unity will sneak to the front row between opposing views. Stories of generosity will emerge from red kettles outside grocery stores and from toy drives, Christmas dinners for the homeless, gifts to one another, and to the Lord’s work through the church.

Amazingly gratitude, kindness, healing, and joy will move from the back of the mind to the tip of the tongue. Christmastime brings out the incredible.

The goal throughout the season is to be more than spectators of the incredible. Let’s be participants. As Christians let’s be champions of kindness, love, care, truth, and gospel sharing—people in the formation of the incredible because we know the essence of Christmas awe.

The Savior of the world, prophesied through the ages, was born. The Son of God—filled with love, compassion, and justice—took up the cross to wash us clean, dwell in our hearts, and guide our lives. Incredible!

Even bigger and better than a net-breaking catch of fish, a dug-through roof, and miraculous healings, eternity Himself stepped into our world to provide the path to His world.

Look for the incredible today. One place I enjoy being reminded of the incredible during this time of year is the rich lyrics of many Christmas songs. For example, see the incredible in the classic “O Holy Night” (Placide Cappeau, trans. John S. Dwight, “O Holy Night,” public domain.):

Verse 1: Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

Verse 3: Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

See the incredible and be the incredible in someone’s life during the Christmas season!

Prayer

Lord, you are at work all around me. Focus my eyes on the incredible today so I can give You the praise you deserve.