The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. – John 1:14

I used to think the symptoms of sin was the greatest proof that I was a sinner.  When I cussed, was immoral, or did countless other things I shouldn’t do, I was so convicted.  I really thought I was a hopeless cause.  Thank God I never stopped running to Him.  I didn’t know what to do with these feelings other than run to an altar and ask God to save me from my awful behavior.

Then, He did.  God changed my wants and desires.  There was this sweet spot of walking with Him and experiencing the joy that only He offers.  Slowly, over time, because I wasn’t nearly as foul mouthed and immoral as I used to be, I kind of became a Pharisee.  It was like I took credit for changing myself.  I had zero mercy on people who were almost exactly like I was before God grabbed a hold of me.  It’s almost like I was better off with those sin symptoms . . . at least they made me constantly run to Him and depend on Him.  I knew He was the only one that could completely change my heart.  When I didn’t have the symptoms anymore, I stopped running to Him as frequently.

Today, I realize afresh that sin is still lying in wait to devour me.  I frequently have this vision where I see salvation as a flowerbed. After the overhaul to make it neat and clean, I only need to check on it every day and give it what it needs.  It may need watering.  It may need something new planted.  It may need a weed here or there pulled up by the roots.  It is so easy to pull these weeds if you catch them early.  Unfortunately, if you neglect it for a long period of time, you could easily be back where you started.

I say all that to say this: I needed to do some weed pulling this morning.  I had a new sin symptom arise.  I read the words, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” and it wasn’t amazing to me. How many times have I heard the name of Jesus and not been enthralled?  How many times have I treated His Name as if it were any other name? If I can hear it and not be moved in some way inside my heart, that is every bit as bad as those other symptoms I had when I was just starting out.  The worst thing sin does is shrink God and make Him like any other religious figure . . . even like us.

John 1:14 sums up Christmas in eight words:  “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  The same Word that was in the beginning with God and actually said, “Let there be light,” and light burst forth all throughout the Universe at 186,000 miles per second.  That very same Word became flesh and literally and figuratively hung out with us to save us.

Amazing.

Lord, continue to sanctify and purify me.  Change my heart and mind so that You are always amazing to me. Thank You for coming and doing what You did for me.

Merry Christmas

Adam