The Kingdom of God/heaven has come near: is among us, in our midst! And as The Message translation says, “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.” God has come to his people and redeemed them (Luke 1:68). As Bill preached on the song about John the Baptist in his first message this Advent, now we hear from John himself…The stage has been set; the work complete; heaven has come to earth; His Kingdom come, His will done, on earth as it is in heaven. The Kingdom of God imparted among us here and now! In whom? Jesus! Us as wearied people, and the weary world can come to Jesus and learn how to live and serve like Him (Matthew 11:28-30). This is the thrilling hope for the wearied world!

On Christmas Eve we celebrate that heaven came to earth, that Jesus was born, and that God’s promise to reconcile us to Him became real and embodied. This is also an invitation and reminder that we are also called to be ambassadors of reconciliation to our hurting and broken world.

It’s one thing to say you believe in something or value something. It’s another thing altogether to show it, do it, and embody it. Jesus’ life was not grounded in a list of moral teachings that he talked about, but in a life that he invites us to be part of in the Kingdom of God in the here and now. This Kingdom lifestyle was shocking because God’s love extended to all, and didn’t hinge on the goodness of us, but the goodness of God.