It is astonishing and shocking that the Creator of the universe could actually live us enough to be born as the created, for the purpose of dying for us. The power of the resurrection has so many implications for the way we live our lives. How can I neglect or minimize such a salvation as this! But I often do to my regret. How could I doubt that He will take care of if my anxiety? He defeats the unseen enemies of our faith just as much as He forgives my rebellion and negligence. He will NEVER leave me.
“We all tend to deny what’s in our hearts. In some way, we all fail to accept the fact that sin is not just a behavior problem, but more fundamentally a matter of the heart. Sin is not just a matter of occasional wrong actions; it’s a condition of our natures. It’s not just that we sin; it’s that we are sinners. When we tell ourselves that we can handle it, that we’ll do better tomorrow, or that we don’t need help, we’re denying that sin is a matter of the heart, and because it is, we cannot escape it on our own. So this Christmas, how about beginning your celebration with confession? I am convinced that when it comes to the redeeming work of Jesus, exuberant rejoicing begins with brokenhearted weeping. Only when sin breaks our hearts will the coming of the Messiah excite our hearts. And there’s grace for this!” - Paul David Tripp, Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional
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