🎄Today we celebrate the mystery at the heart of our faith: the Word became flesh. The eternal Son of God, through whom all things were created, took on human nature and was born as a baby in Bethlehem. This is the incarnation—not God appearing as a man, but God becoming man, entering fully into our human experience. He who knew no hunger became hungry. He who created all things became dependent on His mother's milk. He who holds the universe in His hands was held in human arms. He who is eternal entered time. He who is infinite became finite. The Creator became a creature, yet remained fully God.

Why did He come? The angel's announcement to the shepherds gives us the answer: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). He came as Savior—to rescue us from sin and death. He came as Christ—the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of every promise God had made. He came as Lord—the King whose kingdom has no end. His birth was not an accident, not a backup plan, but the eternal purpose of God to redeem fallen humanity. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Christmas is the celebration of divine love that would not let us go, that pursued us into our darkness, that became one of us so that we might become children of God.

The angels sang "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14) because this birth changed everything. Peace between God and humanity became possible. The way back to the Father was opened. The curse of sin met its match in the sinless One. Death's power was challenged by the Author of Life. Every promise of the Old Testament—every prophecy, every sacrifice, every longing—converged in that stable. Heaven rejoiced because redemption had begun. And today, two thousand years later, we join that heavenly chorus, celebrating not just a historical event but a living Savior who came to dwell with us and will come again to take us home. Merry Christmas! Emmanuel has come, and He is here with us still. ⭐

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, we worship You today. Thank You for leaving heaven's glory to be born in a stable. Thank You for becoming one of us so that we could become children of God. All glory, honor, and praise belong to You, our Savior, our Christ, our Lord. Amen.