Christmas Day – Reign

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6

Our sovereign God preordained the birth of a Savior to a virgin; He has preordained your first breath; and He has preordained the precious—yet short—life of your child.

Today, you will mourn the missing piece of your heart. You, loved one, desire to hear those tiny feet pad to your room bright and early, long to listen to the miniature voice praise “Glory! Glory!”, so deeply want to watch small fingers pull on the festive ribbon, yearn to wash the extra bottle or plate after feasting, and crave to see the awe in your child’s eyes as you read from Luke. Yesterday, I encouraged you all to pause in the sorrow that heavily blankets your celebrations in the post, Christmas Eve – Rain, but today I want to concentrate on why we are able to rejoice through these merriments.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.”
Luke 2:15-20

As the news of the birth of Jesus and His rule spread throughout the land, many “pondered” the legitimacy of the King. But Mary “treasured” that she divinely carried a Savior in her womb, and was appointed to mother Him through His earthly mission. She authentically coveted what God had told her and proclaimed it as redeeming truth in her life. Mary demonstrates how God desires us to revere Him and His Son. With Mary’s valuable example, we can strive to respond to God’s truth and His promise that Jesus reigns, just as we are assured in Luke 1:32-33, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Today we revel in Christ’s birth. We know that He came to give us the gift of salvation by taking our sins to the cross, we understand that He conquered death and lives seated at the right hand of God, and we present ourselves to Him—expectant of His return. Until His glorious return or our splendid homecoming, we give Him reign over our hearts and existence.

While we live in this shattered world full of death, sorrow, and sin, do we allow those conditions to reign over our lives? Or do we give rule to Jesus over the entire territories of our lives?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2

God is present in the midst of our tribulations and grief. We see that Jesus is placed in the highest honor by being “seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). He is exalted. He possesses a posture of a victorious King—ruling over all, His enemies defeated. God’s truth urges us to recognize that Jesus rules over all of the universe (Hebrews 1:3), and that nothing is outside of His control (Hebrews 2:8).

The death of your child does not reign—Jesus does. Having reconciled us to the Father through His resurrection, He will bring His purpose of eternal union with us to completion. Take heart momma, He is “the founder and perfecter of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus tenderly encourages us as we focus on what He endured out of love for us. He is our source of strength in our weakness and joy in our sorrow.

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28

Jesus is a servant King. This does not place Him in a less authoritative position in His reign. It supports the fact that He desires good for you and His kingdom. As we celebrate His birth, take this truth and let His life-giving authority soothe your anguish. He came, He sacrificed, He rose, He ascended, He will return, He reigns, He lives—because He lives so does your precious baby.

We are encouraged to let it rain, but it is liberating to let Immanuel reign over your heart.

Calli Williams is a passionate Christ follower. Calli is married to Jared, and has six children: Gavyn, Grant, Bertie, Gwyneth, Blair, who has been in Glory since November 2014, and Brynne, who joined their family in November 2015. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading when she can steal a quiet moment, using her creativity to craft, and splurging on anything chocolate.

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