A Promise Fulfilled

“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.

 "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want
 it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be
 disappointed." God's Decree.

 "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back
 from all the countries into which I drove you"--God's
 Decree--"bring you home to the place from which I
 sent you off into exile. You can count on it."
                            (Jeremiah 29:13-14 The Message)

Have you ever witnessed a young child playing hide and seek with a parent? The game always ends the same way, doesn’t it? The child finds the parent. Why? Because the parent hides in order to be found, so that the child will experience the joy of discovery. The parent could remain hidden until the child gives up or gets bored and loses interest, but that’s not the parent’s desire. Wanting to be with the child, the parent allows the child to find him or her. It’s the same with our heavenly Father.

The manger tells us that Jesus came to earth because God wants to be found by us–in fact, he guarantees it: “‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:14a). Have you ever felt that God was hiding from you or was difficult to “find”? Do you feel intimidated by reading the Bible, afraid that you won’t understand what God is saying? Maybe you ignore the questions you have about God, theology, or church because you think you’re not knowledgeable enough to have those discussions with others. Perhaps it seems as though God speaks to those who “get it,” and you just don’t. Maybe you feel that having faith means never having doubts or questions.

God wants to be found. God wants us to come to the manger. God wants us to find him there because God has good things for us:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and
come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will
seek me and find me when you seek me with all your
heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and
will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from
all the nations and places where I have banished you,”
declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place
from which I carried you into exile.”
(Jeremiah 29:11-14)

These words are not founded in empty hope. They are spoken with surety and power–not as someone who hopes they can get the job done, but as someone who has already delivered. These words are spoken as a promise–a promise that was fulfilled in Jesus. Through a baby in a humble manger, God was revealed fully to us. Our hearts–imprisoned by sin and death–cried out to God, and God answered. God sent Jesus to rescue us, free us, gather us together, and bring us home to God.

Prayer Focus
What does the wonder of the manger mean for you personally? How can you live in the knowledge that Jesus came for you and fulfilled all of God’s promises for you?

From Rob Renfroe and Ed Robb, The Wonder of Christmas: Devotions for the Season