The Promised One

The world is so wonderful and exciting for a pre-toddler.  Aidan was overjoyed when I pulled out his Fischer Price Nativity from Auntie Callie and Uncle Andy.  He sat so still on my lap as I unwrapped each piece and explained it's role to him.  Once we had unwrapped all the parts and set it up on the table, he very much enjoyed moving all the people and animals around.  The donkey has a wheeled cart and that's his favorite so far.

He likes the camel too.  

I put my nativity up on the coffee table and am thankful that Aidan has his own to play with - he likes my sheep too much, but is learning that those are Mommy's.  Leo is too.  ;)

This is such an amazing season; we decorate, make cookies, buy gifts, and travel to be with loved ones all in celebration of Christ's birth.  And why is that so special?  Too many Americans, unfortunately, just go through the motions of Christmas, treating it simply as an American tradition with Santa at the center.

Our women's bible study is going through Nancy Guthrie's book The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis.  And today the study was on Abraham, the one through whom God promised The Promised One, Jesus Christ.  It reminded me of the incredible promises that God not only gave Abraham, but that He gives His people.

When Abraham asked how he could know that God would fulfill His promise to bring him into the Promised Land, God responded by having Abraham bring animals and cut them in half (Genesis 15:9).  (BTW - Think about that - how super difficult would it be to cut an animal, such as a heifer, in half?  I had enough trouble cutting a Cornish game hen in half for a recipe!)  Normally, both people making the oath walk between the animal halves, but only God walked through them.  Why?  Because "God knew that Abraham could not walk blameless before him, as he had commanded," (Genesis 17:1).  We also, like Abraham, can't fulfill our end of the deal - we break God's commandments all the time, whether it be through our doubts, fears, discontent, etc.

But thanks be to God! Christ Jesus walked our bloody path, "marked not with the blood of halved animals but with His own blood...By bearing the full consequences of the convenantal pledge to death, Christ delivered us from the curse of our inability to live up to the covenant so that we might become heirs of its blessing," (pg 165). 

When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. 

Galations 3:13

This is why we celebrate.  This is why we rejoice.  Christ Jesus is the hope.  Christ Jesus is the "sure and steadfast anchor of our souls," (pg 166).

As you set up your nativity this season, rejoice!  The Promised One has come.