Do we have God’s heart this Christmas? Are we bothered about what bothers Him? Do we see what He sees? Can we hear the cries of people like God does?
As we gather in this season of Immanuel—God with us—we’re reminded that Christmas is the ultimate proof that God wants to include us in His concerns. The Incarnation itself is God refusing to hide His plans from humanity, but instead drawing near, making His heart known through a baby in a manger.
We’re going to read a few wonderful verses that show God deliberating whether to include Abraham in His concerns. We see God wondering whether Abraham will care the way He cares—much like we wonder at Christmas whether we’ll truly receive the gift of God’s presence and let it change how we see the world.
“When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:16-21)
The visitors have enjoyed Abraham’s hospitality, a theme that echoes through Christmas, where God Himself becomes our guest, and are now leaving. As they look toward Sodom in the distance, God asks the strange question in verse 17. God Almighty is considering whether to let this man, a failure in many ways, come into His thinking about His plans. We have often done this with those closest to us. It reveals Abraham’s position with God. He has become a friend of God.
Let’s pause right there.
Isn’t this what Christmas celebrates? That God would call us friends? That He wouldn’t keep His rescue plan hidden but would announce it to shepherds, reveal it through a star, proclaim it through angels? At Christmas, we see that God’s heart has always been to include us, to draw us near, to share His concerns with us.
God did this not because His friend had earned such a position. That is perhaps why we would let a friend be so close to our thoughts.
- He brought Abraham into His confidence because of what he would become. He will become a great nation. There was a calling on Abraham’s life, but also a promise from God. Just as the Christmas story reminds us: we are called to become part of God’s family, His people—not through our merit, but through His promise.
- Secondly, because of what Abraham would do. He would instruct his children in the way of the Lord. He would teach them righteousness. God has confidence in Abraham. How? He has instilled these values in him. So as we continue to read tomorrow of one of the significant negotiations in the whole of the Bible, we do so because God equipped Abraham to respond the way He did, with compassion.
This Christmas season, as we light candles against the darkness and sing of peace on earth, goodwill to all, we’re living in the answer to God’s question. He didn’t hide His plans. He sent His Son. He gave us His heart wrapped in swaddling clothes.
For Abraham, this was a wonderful invitation, and it still stands for us today.
Will we let God’s heart for justice, righteousness, and compassion become ours?
Missions Paul 