“So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.”
The Apostle Paul, Galatians 6:10
Christmas and family are almost synonymous. The God of all creation chose to become flesh and dwell among us by being born in a family. This year when you see a nativity remember Christmas is about the family of God.
In fact, family is so important to God that He reveals Himself as our Heavenly Father, and Jesus as His Son. And through the work of Jesus on the cross God invites us to become part of His family. Part of the message of Christmas is that you are not alone, you are part of a family that truly loves you, lead by a Father who moved heaven and earth to adopt you!
Our hope for you today is that you take every opportunity to do good to all people, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of God.
Bonus Content:
The Christmas hymn playing in the background of today’s podcast was written by Cecil Frances Alexander. She wrote nearly four hundred hymns many of which where used in Irish public schools to teach students Christian theology. As you read through Once in Royal David’s City notice she uses the language of family to tell the beautiful story of Christmas.
Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and His shelter was a stable,
and His cradle was a stall:
with the poor, and meek, and lowly
lived on earth our Savior holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
through His own redeeming love;
for that child so dear and gentle,
is our Lord in heav’n above,
and He leads His children on
to the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see Him, but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high;
when like stars His children crowned
all in white shall wait around.
With much love,
The Downings
