So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (NLT)

I don’t know about you, but I love the Christmas season. Not the crazy “shop ‘til you drop” mentality, but the real reason for the season. I love watching the cool (and sometimes hokey) kid’s Christmas shows, I get a real kick out of looking at the Christmas lights and decorations people put up, and I love going caroling with friends.  It is one of the few times of the year when people pay attention to the story of Jesus, even if they are not Christians. People know the songs even if they don’t fully understand the reason for them (like Silent Night, Little Drummer Boy, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, etc.). Bottom line… Christmas is about shared experiences and ultimately about community.

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So, as we prepare for Christmas tomorrow, the verse above points to an interesting question… How does the Christmas story and the coming of Jesus point us to the importance of community?  

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I see this playing out in two distinct ways:

First, God wanted people to know that Christ was coming –  

• God announced the event to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)

• God let it be known to the wise men (Matt 2:1-12)

• God predicted it in the Old Testament (hundreds of prophecies, including Isa. 7:14 and Mic. 5:2)

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Why would God tell so many people unless he felt it was important for the community to know?

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Second, the incarnation, where God became human in the person of Jesus, points to the importance of community by demonstrating that God chose to enter into human relationships, live within a community, and experience life alongside others. Thus, he demonstrated that our connection with others is vital. We are called to live in solidarity with one another, just as Jesus did with humanity.

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Jesus demonstrated four truths by becoming one of us:

• Shared humanity: By becoming flesh, Jesus shared in our human experience, including the need for connection and belonging within a community.  

• Model of love and service: Jesus' life exemplified selfless love and service to others, demonstrating the kind of relationships we should strive for within community.  

• The Church as the Body of Christ: Christians are considered members of the "Body of Christ," signifying that we are united together as one body, with each member playing a vital role.

• Fellowship and support: The incarnation shows that we are not meant to walk alone in our faith, but to share our struggles, joys, and support with one another within the community.

So, what does this mean for you and me?

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First, it shows me that I should not be trying to be a “Lone Ranger” Christian. I need to be in community. I need to be around other believers, and we need to encourage one another. This can be challenging if you are a hermit like I am, but I know that if I light a twig on fire and hold it up, separated from the rest of the fire, it quickly burns out. If I put the twig in the fire with the other wood, it burns strongly and feeds the flames of the twigs and sticks around it. We need to do the same thing.

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Second, it shows me that I need to connect with others in order to share the message I have heard and know to be true. It is very hard to share the gospel with someone you don’t really know. You need to form a relationship first, which comes from living, working, and playing together in community.

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I need to constantly remind myself of this. How are you doing?  

As you celebrate Christmas this year, how is God calling you to reach out into community with others?

Dear God, thank you for putting me in community. I am confident that I could not carry the load of all that life throws at me if I did not have you and a community to love and support me. Keep me focused on being an active participant in that community and in supporting the people around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.