Believe

Above Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan is the word, “Believe“. Believe what? Anyone who has ever watched the parade knows they are asking to believe in Santa, but as I watched men and women coming out of the store and onto the streets with bags that had that same word and beautiful red and white packages tied with ribbon that said, Believe, it made me think of all those around me: “what do you believe in?”, and “what do you believe about God?”.

 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of his cross.” Col 1:15-20

 

In the 1994 movie, Miracle on 34th Street, the little girl goes up to the judge and hands him a Christmas card with a $1.00 bill in it.  As he looks at the bill he sees the words, “In God we trust”, and declares,  “if the us government can trust in an invisible God then this court can trust in the spirit of Santa in the man, Kris Kringle: case dismissed.”  Happy ending; Christmas is saved at least from the material standpoint!  But think about it for a minute Christmas is about God giving us himself; Jesus is the image of the invisible God”. Jesus, Emmanuel, God the Son, came to live among us, to become one of us, to descend from heaven to live in his creation. Why? Because of his great love for us Jesus came “to reconcile to himself all things”, so that you and I might have eternal life. This simple unpretentious baby in a manger would cry, laugh, do chores for his parents, and grow up to walk among us, healing the sick, making the blind see, the dead alive and preaching the good news. He came into the world to save sinners to those who believe in Him by faith, to make the invisible God visible for all eternity. Think about it? How cool is it that we not only have a God who saves us because he loves us, but we have a God with experiential knowledge of what it means to suffer, to grieve, to be tempted, to laugh, to love, to cry, to be hungry, tired, anxious, rejected and everything in between.  And what does He ask; Simply to believe in Him, and acknowledge that you and I are sinful and in need of a Savour, and not any savior but Jesus who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, the creator of all things in heaven and earth, even governments, rulers, and who is before all things and in him holds all things together, and head of the church (his people).  He is the beginning, and first over the dead so he is the first in everything.  And, the fullness of God was pleased to live in Christ and through Christ reconciled everything to himself, making peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. So when you see Macy’s commercials, or shop at their store or see their packages wrapped in ribbon with the word, “Believe”, ask yourself, “What do I believe in?” and “What do I believe about Jesus?” He came for you and I, won’t you believe?

 

Think About It!:

What do you believe about Jesus? How and where did you form your belief or non-belief?

Do you believe God will give you the strength you need to face whatever he has ordained for you to face?

Do you believe that God is actively committed to meeting every one of your true needs?

How does the description of Christ from Colossians strengthen your belief in Him?