Glorifying God in Family Gatherings

11/28/2016

In our Advent sermon series this year, we’re seeing the many ways God is glorified in the birth narrative of Jesus. Two thousand years later, do we still give glory to God in our Christmas celebrations? If so, how?

One aspect of the Christmas season nearly all of us will experience is gathering with family. Naturally we can give thanks to God for our family, who are a good gift from him. Jesus himself was born into a family, with an earthly father and mother. He would grow up with younger brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3). From the beginning, our wise and gracious Creator made us to exist in families to love and care for one another. Praise God for bonds that draw us together in spite of the distances in between.

But at Christmas in particular, gathering with family should remind us of an even greater gift of grace. Even more than the son of Mary and Joseph, Jesus is the Son of God, whose Father sent him to earth so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Rom 8:29). Through faith in Christ, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Christ. Our bond with one another in Christ and even with God himself goes deeper even than blood relations.

Family gatherings are beautiful, joyful occasions. But we all know sometimes they are also filled with pain and sadness. Sometimes conflict disrupts family felicity. Sometimes an empty chair at the table reminds us of someone who has passed away or who is estranged from us. But because Jesus came to our world, we who were estranged from our heavenly Father have been reunited to him. And no matter what happens to us in the meantime, we are looking forward to the ultimate family gathering with our Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ, a family gathering free of pain, whose joy will never end. When you see your family this Christmas season, give thanks to your Father for sending his Son to draw you into his loving family.