We Have Our Savior

I thought about it earlier, as I sat in the sanctuary and held up my candle, one among hundreds.
I thought about Louie Giglio's tweet,

 "The baby wasn't the one helpless that night, we were."

I thought about how we couldn't save ourselves. How we sat, failing and flailing and wandering. Fearful and hopeless and in despair. 

I imagined what it would have been like had God been within the restraints of time like we are. I imagine Him sitting, watching, waiting. And then, as the sun sets on Bethlehem, He points and His voice echoes through history. 

"Now. It's time. Let's go save them." 

What wonder! The angels, the world, all of creation holds its breath. He's going to rescue them. The winds whisper and the rumor is spread. The humans? You're sure? Why would He want them? Heaven watches as God takes on flesh and shrinks so small that he fits inside one of His own children. 

I imagine the angels much like Clarence (this is all for the sake of imagination, not theology), watching as the plan unfolds and wondering why, how could this work?
A baby? Human frailty, human emotions, human weakness? Why would you want that, God? They're not worth it. We all know they don't deserve it. It will hurt. You'll go through torture, anguish, death. We know You'll win, but it will cost so much, Lord. 

I find myself asking Him the same things sometimes. 
You paid so much for me, Father. You see how much I disobey You and question You and how much red I've got in my ledger. You see my wandering and my confusion and my hopelessness and yet You say You want that? Why, Lord?

And then I feel the answer, in a candlelit room as Silent Night rings soft to my ears and blasting to my heart. 

"I love you, child. I made you. I chose you and I treasure you. I delight, yes delight, to redeem you. Didn't I say I endured the cross for the joy set before me? Let me show you how good I am. Let me give you gifts, not just in things you can list or count to sleep, but in Me. I'm for you, love. You can have as much of Me as you can contain, and I will never end and never fail you. I came to bring you back to me. Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you, and you shall dwell in my house forever." 

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! This Christmas, the presents don't matter quite so much as the presence, the presence of a Father whose grace is so much greater and whose love is so much deeper than I can ever understand. All I can do is hold peace near this Christmas Eve, and breathe thanks with every breath because He is here. 
Who needs Santa when you can have Christ? 
Who needs trees when you can have the cross? 
Who needs gifts when you can have Him?