“In opting to celebrate His birthday in Bethlehem in such low-key fashion, Jesus revealed himself free from public opinion, from fear of what others might say or think. Jesus is the incarnation of the Father’s freedom. Paradoxically, while the freedom of Jesus is contagious for some, in others it arouses defensiveness. They have set their faces against freedom, against surprise, against novelty.”
Brennan Manning, Lion and Lamb
Maybe it’s why we cheer for the underdog, why we are attracted to humility in others, why we long for simplicity in the midst of this crowded, competitive world. It’s because love came down as an unlikely hero — small, scrawny, helpless, needy. And in coming that way, he declared freedom from the world’s expectations before he could even open his eyes. How can a King be a baby? How can God be a man and God?
Maybe all of life is really about coming back to the stable, learning to believe that because God came as a baby, then the last ones are first, the weak ones are strong, and all of heaven hangs upside down. May we set our face toward the freedom that comes from living like it’s true. May we believe with our lives that all of these things we so desperately seek – worth, attention, love, belonging – are found in Him. And He has come, and we are free.
Merry Christmas, friends. Repeat the sounding joy.
Indeed He has come to set up free! Merry Christmas to you too!
Beautiful words and so true and what a perfect baby. Happy Christmas Emily I hope you have a lovely time. X
if you wrote a devotional book, i’d buy it and read it………just sayin’
Absolutely beautiful and touching! Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas, Emily!
Repeat the sounding joy.
Merry Christmas, Emily!
Amen!
This is Beautiful…
Amen & Merry Christmas!
Sweet, powerful, perfectly-written truth. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
This Baby Savior is the thing that stops me in my tracks most this year. I mean – a baby. And a savior. It’s so upside down, and that surprises me less and less all the time.
Beautiful words, beautiful girl.
Oh my word what a beautiful post. Just thank you. I never thought about things this way before. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!!
xxxx
Beautiful!
love his reminder. i feel so wieghed down. so ready to be done. and yet i am already free. xo, e
Thank you for writing these words. Such a beautiful reminder that we all innately desire to be known by a humble, loving God! And I love the quote in the beginning – so true. And we must repeat the sounding joy so others will see and embrace that freedom! Merry Christmas Emily!
This was the perfect thing to read this evening. Sometimes I struggle to connect to the birth. I connect most to it as the moment light pierced the darkness. But I love, love, love what you wrote here, coupled with your photograph. Amazing that a baby could be a king, even THE king. I sit here smiling, my heart repeating the sounding joy. Merry Christmas, Emily! Your words have been a blessing to me all year long. Thank you.
How beautifully peaceful and true. Merry Christmas!