A very Merry Christmas season to you!

I’m betting that the flurry of the holidays has everyone quite busy, so I’ll just share a few thoughts.

First and foremost, a big, sincere “thank you!” from Stasi and me and our team for the outpouring of love and support in response to my November letter. I let you know we needed help making budget as the year closes, and you are responding beautifully. Thank you! Things are on a good trend.

Now—as Christmas draws near, I hope you find a few quiet moments to turn your heart towards Jesus. These are the moments we treasure at Christmastime. As you do, here is something wonderful to reflect upon:

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation…all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16)

All things have been created through Jesus. Most folks don’t think of Jesus as their Creator, but he is!

In these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:2)

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3)

Now yes, of course—God our Father made all things with and through and for Jesus. So if it helps you, you can call Jesus your co-Creator. Still, it is an amazing thought. He is far more than Savior. As you look into the manger, you can say to yourself, My Creator has come for me!

It’s significant that your Creator is involved in your rescue, because salvation is re-creation. The image of God in us was torn by sin and evil; God came to renew it.

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:10)

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We have been, and are being, recreated by the One who created us in the first place. This is why Scripture speaks so much about being “born again.” Salvation is re-creation!

There is more:

All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)

Through the Son [God] created the universe…and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. (Hebrews 1:2-3)

Jesus Christ was utterly essential to your creation and re-creation, and now he is the integrating force of your life. O friends, this holds such hope for us! 

Because this is the hour of de-creation. The enemy and his forces are hell-bent, here in this last moment, to pull apart every element of God's beautiful creation. It’s a war of annihilation, a scorched-earth campaign. Everywhere you look you see the chaos, the fragmentation, the “unmaking” of things—from the sorrows of the planet itself to human relations, right down to our humanity. Especially our humanity, because it is the image of God in us. Whether it is physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually, we can see the plot to unmake humanity.

But Jesus Christ is the integrating force of all creation, including our humanity. In him all things hold together, including you. He sustains the universe by his mighty command, and he sustains you. He is reintegrating you even now.

When the pressures mount, when I feel like I’m being pulled apart at the seams, I cry out,

Lord Jesus, my Creator—hold me together! Be the integrating force of my life!

So this year, when you look into the manger, you can say to yourself, 

Here is my Creator, coming to rescue and recreate me.

Here is my Sustainer, who holds my humanity together.

Lord Jesus, hold me together! Be the integrating force of my life!

For this is what we most need in this hour.

Offered in love—and a very Merry Christmas from your friends at Wild at Heart!

John

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