The Defining Birth

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” – Luke 1:35

The belief in the virgin birth is a cornerstone of Christianity.  Jesus Christ came into the world in a supernatural way.  The birth of Christ was a divine occasion that forever changed the course of humanity.  Not to mention, the life of Mary.  The virgin birth, proved yet again that all things are subject to the Almighty.  This is/was a life changing event, a life defining event.  Mary will forever be the Mother of Jesus Christ.  The mother of the Son of God.  The holy child born of her now defines her.   

Every year, Christmas is surrounded by promptings and reminders such as “keep Christ in Christmas” and “Jesus is the reason for the Season.”  We must be very careful not to harness our spiritual lives to the “holiday schedule.”  Careful not to be thankful only at Thanksgiving.  Careful not to be Christians only at Christmas.  Gracious and charitable only in the season of giving.  The meaning of Christmas is a meaning that we live, or rather, lives in us throughout the year; throughout our years.  To the Christian the birth of Christ is ever defining.  One must understand that Christ is Christmas.  This should not be something that we need to be prompted of, but rather something that cannot be ignored; because to the Christian, Christ is born in us.  When a man or women is born again, they know that the Holy Ghost abides within and there is no doubt about the birth within.  Furthermore, it is a life changing, life defining event.  You are no longer the old man, but the new; and this birth defines you.  You are dead to self and sin, presenting your bodies a living sacrifice.  Your life is hid with Christ in God.  You have crucified the old man with the affections and lust thereof.  You are a not the man or women that you used to be.  You are sanctified.  Jesus Christ was born into this world so that he could one day be born in us.  So that, one day, the Son of God could abide in the heart of man teaching us and guiding us every day of our lives.  It is an experience that is known immediately, and something that you will not ever forget.  There should be no need to be reminded, it is not something that you need to be prompted to turn on, because it becomes you and defines you.  No doubt, the yearly recognition of Christ is better than none.  However, if the clutter of life has encumbered us to the point that we can only stop for a few weeks to acknowledge the Savior of the World.  The depth of our experience with that Savior should be examined; because the Holy Ghost can come upon thee and the power of the Highest can overshadow thee, and you can have born in you the Son of God. 

This inward birth will change you, it will define you, and it will bring more joy, peace, happiness, than ever thought possible.  The greatest of all gifts is surly this: that God sent his only Son into the world that “we might have life and have it more abundant.”  Merry Christmas; today, tomorrow and all those that may follow.