CHRISTMAS: GOD'S OPEN HEART AND HAND THROUGH US

Paul repeatedly greets the believers in his letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus and Philemon with the blessing: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!" It is a prayer and a wish placing its hearers in the space of God's open heart and hand.

At Christmas, God became visible in His grace and peace. The world has heard of it and is looking for Him. They ask of us, the followers of Christ where is God, and where can grace and peace be found. Can we show them more than just our church building, Bible study groups, prayer meetings, church structures, etc. Can we tell them, “Just look at my life and you will see God's open heart and hand of grace and peace. Through His Holy Spirit God became flesh in my life. Look, the Immanuel is here with me.” Can we refer to our own lives if someone asks," Where is the God who came to the earth at Christmas?"

Living in the open space of the Immanuel’s heart and hand means breaking down walls and bringing reconciliation. Paul emphasizes in Ephesians 2 verses 14-22: "For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people. He is our peace, He who made both one and broke down the middle wall of separation ... Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." Furthermore, we are gracious and live in peace with each other and all others. We know how much it has cost God to forgive us and that is why we can offer forgiveness to others. Then we live by our own prayers in which we asked God to be gracious to us so that we may be gracious and merciful to others. The open hand and heart of God in Jesus makes us believe that peace is possible and transcends all understanding. Peace, is not just a theory, but something I practice, it becomes a way of life.

Christmas means that God wants to live in us with His grace and peace and therefore my wish for everyone: May you be blessed! May the grace of the Father, the love of Christ, and the closeness of the Comforter the Holy Spirit fill you with peace this Christmas and in the New Year 2020.