2020 has been a weird year with so many different things taking place, but I know what is constant and never changes: Who God is, His love for us, and that He knows you’re 100% worthy to receive His love!

Like most everyone, there are times when I don’t feel worthy, but that doesn’t change the truth of His love. Christians are always saying that God is worthy to be honored, praised and loved.  Yet, He looks at us and says, “You are worthy of My love!  I proved it by sending My Son.”

I like something Max Lucado once said: “Christ was born, and so was our hope.”  Matthew 12:21 reminds us, “And His Name will be the hope of all the world.” (NLT)

“Christ Was Born, and So Was Our Hope.”

Jesus didn’t come just to forgive us of our sins (leaving us as forgiven sinners); He came to redeem us back to our original identity so that we wouldn’t see ourselves as forgiven sinners but, instead, see ourselves as redeemed and righteous sons and daughters of God.

Jesus came to redeem us to the righteousness that God created from the beginning for us.  When Adam lost that righteousness, God still never forgot the righteousness He saw in us.  Even though humanity was distorted in its image of itself, God never stopped seeing humanity that way.

“This is the divine exchange: He Who knew no sin embraces our distortion; He appeared without form.  This was the mystery of God’s prophetic poetry: He was disguised in our distorted image and marred with our iniquities; He took our sorrows, our pain and our shame to His grace, and birthed His righteousness in us.  He took our sins and we became His innocence.” – 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 (MIRROR)

The birth of Jesus as a baby isn’t just a great Christmas story to talk about…this event was the birthing of His innocence in us!  This was the opportunity for God to be born on this Earth as a human – to take on all the flaws and sin and shame and guilt of mankind – so that we could like as Jesus in righteousness as His son or daughter!  Jesus laid down His divinity and picked up our humanity.  He became like us so that we could become like Him!  That’s the great exchange.

“Jesus became like us so that we could become like Him!”

Matthew 12:21 says “And His name will be the hope of all the world.”  So, what’s in Jesus’ Name?  Isaiah tells us:

“For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us.  The government will rest on His shoulders and He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity.  The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” – ISAIAH 9:6-7 (NLT)

(Here’s an important note: The physical body of Jesus was born, but His eternal spirit which existed from the beginning (see John 1:1) and created all things (see John 1:3) was given. The spiritual being of Jesus wasn’t created; it was given into a sinless (but nevertheless human) body of a baby.)

Passionate commitment…that’s’ a commitment that’s not going to be stopped!  Not only did God intend for this to happen; He made certain it was going to happen.  He put weight behind it.  Counselor, mighty God, Father, peace…what do you need?  It is available to you!

Do you have a situation which requires peace?  God’s might, love or guidance?  Believe it’s available!  As Colossians 3:15 says in the Mirror Bible, “Appoint the peace of Christ as umpire in your hearts. We are all identified in the same person; there is only one body.  We are born to be a blessing and exhibit His benevolence.”  Keep your eyes on Jesus; He is our salvation, King and Lord!

Whatever we need, the Name of Jesus is more than enough.  It’s not just a name…it’s a declaration and empowerment to live your life in the victory He purchased for you!

The Announcement of Goodwill

Our mission at Hope City is to share the goodness of God to bring hope and transformation in Christ.  This is exactly what happened when the birth of Jesus was announced by the angels!

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” – LUKE 2:8-14 (NKJV)

Great joy to all people!  Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.  With the birth of Jesus came the birth of the end of conflict between God and humanity because of sin.  That’s worth sharing!  Bring those good tidings!  If what you are sharing doesn’t bring joy, it isn’t good tidings.

At Christmas (and throughout the year!), keep in mind that God’s peace and His joy are available to you and all the world!

To watch the full December 20, 2020 message on which this post was based, click here.