The Unspeakable Gift of Presence
The day I schedule for blog posts is Wednesday, and I feel the weight of releasing words on Christmas Day. Christmas—the day that changed everything, for everyone, for all eternity. Christmas—the day that speaks a universal language of relentless, selfless love. Christmas, the present carefully wrapped in the humblest wrappings but containing within the unspeakable gift of Presence. His Presence is available like a whisper spoken soft into the night, bringing to all the hope of a newfound identity—we are His.
That’s what lies beneath the story of Christmas—that He came near so we could be His.
Chosen, even if we wouldn’t choose us.
Redeemed, even if we don’t feel we are worth redeeming.
Adopted, even if we feel utterly underserving to be named one of the family of Christ.
He gave us the gift of His Presence, not because we deserve it, but because He wanted to give it. And when He invited us into His family, He also invited us to share His family mission—to be disciple-making-disciples everywhere we go.
Christmas reminds me that the work God is doing inside me is not meant for me alone, but to help others help others help others love God and love people better. He is with me, every baby step I take toward living on mission (being a disciple-making-disciple) right in my own neighborhood.
The joy of walking with Him on His mission—it cannot be captured in words. We get to partner with the Holy Spirit in healing and transforming lives. Could there be a greater honor? We get to be part of a community that authentically wants to do life together—is there a more fulfilling endeavor to begin sowing into? We get to love beyond the reach of our community with practical acts of love—could it get more fun?
My prayer is that this year Christmas will fill your heart with wonderment at the unspeakable gift of His Presence. I pray that you would see yourself as He sees you—wanted, chosen, priceless. And as part of His family, I pray that you will deeply know that we disciple because of who we are, not as a way to earn a place nearer the circle of His gaze. May the gift of His Presence be the catalyst for loving the people in our very own neighborhoods well.
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