From Chris Maxwell’s book Unwrapping His Presence: What We Really Need for Christmas
https://chrismaxwell.me/pause-christmas-gift-bundle
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
The tilted planet spins by habit in sad silence. Heaven is quiet. No words have fallen from above for four still centuries.
Will earth end this way? Will she slow, sleep, die while her Maker appears absent?
Creator spoke in days past. His voice through creation, His voice through creatures, came clearly. Words thundered, whispered, burned into the conscience of this populated satellite.
The words stopped. People noise continued: words scattered, words sent, words screamed around the earth and up from earth toward the squelched sky. But, from above, nothing.
She flies through skies on course: a planet in place on a pause of maintenance. Can she keep going while weighted with the heavy silence? Will her malaise catch and moor her?
This cannot be all. Creator promised to say more. The Father of worlds vowed to voice His word again.
Tonight, some say, the silence has ceased.
Tonight, some say, the Word has come.
Wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, some say, the Word has come.
Sound waves of infant cries: Could it be the voice of God? Shepherds and sheep, mom and dad and angels gather around the center of attention. A Baby born in a world hoping to hear from heaven: Is such a small event worth so much attraction?
God would speak from a mountain or a temple or a television studio. God would speak as a religious leader or a king or a political activist. Not from a barn as a Baby.
The signs shout and dare a world to believe.
Dark doubt has lost a little of its grip on earth tonight, for some reason. The planet of frowns has found a few smiles of wonder tonight, for some reason.
Will a world hear a Word and be healed? Hear a word from an Infant and find faith? Will she?
Time will tell. But tonight the sky is scattered with sound. The music of angels, of stars, of promises fulfilled.
It does appear odd that God would talk this way. And after so long. Yet, if this is God, pray the planet shall listen.
Shall listen, as she spins and flies through noisy skies, shall listen. Pray she shall hear that a long-awaited Word is here.
“Christmas is all about wonder, a time when men and angels marvel at the goodness of a God who would leave heaven to rescue us.” (Lee Grady)
From Chris Maxwell’s book Unwrapping His Presence: What We Really Need for Christmas
https://chrismaxwell.me/pause-christmas-gift-bundle
