by Pastor Bill

Christmas reveals a God whom we can’t understand and yet is so approachable. What is more disarming than a little baby? Yet that baby was a uniquely perfect blending of God and human flesh. Frankly, my inability to fully grasp all this has bothered me, even challenged my faith. The more I discover about God, the more I see I need to learn.

Take Psalm 90 for instance. It portrays a God we live in, who is without end or beginning. He created the earth and natural cycles in all of nature. Yet they do not limit Him. He has infinite knowledge of everything and everyone. He has awesome power, fierce justice and complete purity. Yet God wants to satisfy us each day with unfailing love, give us a song of joy and purpose in life.

How can we wrap our hearts and minds around this majestic God? We can’t, on our own. That is why verses 11 and 12 tell us to submit to Him and to humbly accept His evaluation of life and us. Ask Him to teach you each day and accept His wisdom.

We find a wonderful example of this in Mary, Mother of Jesus. She followed God and yet was dumbfounded when His angel presented her with an impossible situation. Her cry echoes our response to a measureless God: “How can this be?” After more mind-boggling information, she submits and accepts God’s evaluation of her situation: “May it be unto me as you have said.”

Understand this; we do submit to someone’s understanding of us. It might be society’s, philosophy’s, or the God of the Bible’s. We are making these choices whether we realize it or not. Elijah, standing between an altar to an idol and one to God, challenged the people, “How long will you halt between two opinions?”

At Jesus birth, the angels sang of peace. Jesus said He gives us peace, “but not as the world gives.” The Apostle Paul prayed we find a peace that “passes all understanding.” That’s it friends! At the manger we submit to the invitation of a powerful, loving God who passes all understanding. And if you think about it, if we really could understand Him, would he be God?