As a young girl, I was not allowed to put the little ceramic baby Jesus in the manger while we put up the tree and decorated for Christmas. No matter how much I begged, I had to wait to see that addition grace the creche. And boy-oh-boy, waiting was never easy for me.
But somehow, as if by magic, he would appear on the morning of the 25th, reclining in the ceramic hay. Finally, the wait was over. It was never quite Christmas without this completed decoration. It was one of the first things I raced to see in the morning. After my presents, of course.
It’s three days before Christmas and I want to remind you—the wait is already over, friends. That baby Jesus was born for you. He was crucified for you. He was buried for you. He was raised up to new life for you. Christ in me, the hope of glory. No, he doesn’t sit in the manger anymore. He lives in you!
The glory of the Lord shines INSIDE you in the person of Jesus Christ. He brings His own peace, His own joy, His own hope, and His own love for you to spread to others.
Not feeling it? Don’t think you simply have it in you this season?
As my favorite workout video says, “Yes you can!”
Why? Because of WHO is in you! Do you truly know who lives in you? This person’s internal presence is now the SOURCE from which you can give to others. He is the very essence of peace, joy, hope, and love. This gift inside of you is the hope of glory.
It’s Jesus Christ!
Thankfully, He will never need batteries. He will never need to be put together first. He will never stop working.
Nope, unlike gifts that wear out and break, He will never fail.
And with this very person of unending grace living and breathing inside, you can be Christ-in-you to every person you encounter in this hopeless world. You can love the unlovable with the love of Jesus. You get to be Jesus with skin on to your family and friends. Even those who hurt you. Especially them.
And you don’t need to wait, either. You can pick up that baby from the creche of your heart—Remember, He’s inside you now—and bring Jesus to hurting people in your sphere of influence.
How? Since you are a new creation, you can find fresh willingness, allowing your source—Jesus Christ—to do it through you.
Because remember, Christ in you, the hope of glory says that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
I wish the seven-year-old me would have really known who lived inside as I raced down the wooden stairs on Christmas mornings.
I would have gone to the baby Jesus before the presents.
The Christ child has been born for me. He is good news of great joy. Glory to God in the highest! I have been crucified with him. Glory to God in the highest. I have been buried with him. Glory to God in the highest! I have been raised to new life with him. Glory to God in the highest. Christ the Lord lives in me. Glory to God in the highest! Today, I can offer others what I already have in Him—His very own love, peace, joy, and hope. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Christ in me. What a wonderful hope of glory!
(Based on Luke 2:8-14, Colossians 1:27, Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 2:20, and Philippians 4:13)
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Aleisha
*Will you help me point to the gift of love, peace, joy, and hope found in the person of Jesus Christ this season? Please share this confession of hope with someone. Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!