"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people." Luke 1:68, NKJV

What started out as a normal Monday soon spiraled down into a sick day.  Before I knew it, fever and chills took over, and what I thought would be a brief morning nap turned into a day-long spell of bedridden misery.  Day turned to night before I heard the welcomed sounds of my family returning home from work and school.  I know it hadn't been all that long, but it sure felt like an eternity of isolation.  Suffering is never easy to endure, and it's even worse to feel alone in our suffering.  So when my youngest peeked into my bedroom just to say, "Daddy, I love you," it had a reviving effect.  Later, I opened my eyes to see my eldest looking at me with tender sympathy.  "Sorry, you're not feeling well Dad."  She then proceeded to ask to borrow my phone...but still, her brief visit and connection was a pick-me-up.  A simple visit is an expression of loving attention that brings healing in ways we may not always see.  So when the Christmas story tells of the God who visits His people (Lk. 1:68) on a much grander scale than my one-day fever, what are we really supposed to hear?

GOD SEES US

Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, "The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, 'I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt.'" Exodus 3:16, NKJV

By the time Moses shared this message with the people of Israel, they had been enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years.  Generation after generation had endured hardship and passed away wondering when their hope of deliverance would be realized.  This divine assurance spoke directly to their heart questions:  God is here, and He sees exactly what is going on.  With the assurance of God's visitation is the assurance of His attentiveness to our pain.  Notice the connection later on as the children of Israel take this to heart:

So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. Exodus 4:31, NKJV

The God who visits us is the God looks upon our affliction.  He doesn't look away from it or sweep it under the rug.  

He sees what has burdened us and bound us for what feels like an eternity, and He hasn't forgotten His promises to do us good.  

As we spend time rehearsing the birth of Jesus this season, we can exercise faith just like the Israelites of old to trust that God is on the move to rescue us from whatever our long-standing affliction may be.  And when we do, it ought to move us to worship and adore Him.

GOD VALUES US

Sometimes knowing that a person of authority can see us isn't always an endearing thing.  When a teacher tells their student, "I'm watching you!" it can feel more like a threat than an assurance depending on the context or relationship.  When it comes to the God of the universe and the notion of His divine attention toward us, the psalmist models for us the kind of awe and appreciation we're supposed to feel in response:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?  For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:3-5, NKJV

As David takes in the glories of the night sky and connects the dots between the infinite expanse above and the infinite God who created it all, he asks in awestruck wonder how this God could possibly be mindful of us.  Think of it.  The infinite God is mindful of finite humanity.  In other words, God's mind is full of thoughts and affection toward us.  And this divine attention, as David concludes in verse 5, ascribes worth and value upon humanity that exceeds all visible creation!  The God who visits us does so because He values us.  Sometime this Christmas season, I hope you'll hear the familiar carol "O Holy Night," and when you do listen for the value we're given by God's divine visitation:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 

Til He appeared, 

And the soul felt its worth

GOD RESURRECTS US

Luke 7:11-17 describes one of the most striking collisions between life and death in Scripture.  A large crowd follows the miracle-working Jesus toward a city called Nain, but as this enthused multitude approaches the city, they encounter a funeral procession.  That crowd is full of mourning over the passing of a widow's only son.  But when the death meets Jesus, death always loses.  In compassion for the woman, Jesus turns the widow's sorrow into joy and resurrects her son!  Listen to how Luke describes the aftermath of this miracle:

Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. Luke 7:16-17, NKJV

In light of the the resurrection miracle, the people conclude that "God has visited His people."  

In other words, the God who visits us is the God who is greater than death itself.

His very presence redefines our story from one of death to one of resurrection.  And instead of filling the regions surrounding our lives with reports of mourning and sorrow, we can spread good news of great joy when we know that God has visited us today!

Let's make this Advent season a time to remember that God has remembered us.  The God who has visited us actually sees us, values us, and resurrects us today.  If we find ourselves burdened and bound, look to the God who looks upon our affliction.  If we are overcome by our own insignificance, look to the God whose mind is full of loving thoughts toward us.  If we are mournful over loss whether recent or distant, look to the God whose very presence redefines our story from one of death to resurrection and reunion.