He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 1:10-11 NKJV

Today, it’s sometimes hard to relate to one who is physically unseen, but we can’t encapsulate Jesus in the cocoon of Biblical times. We have to allow ourselves to remove the robes and sandals visually; dress him in jeans, a tee shirt and sneakers. He can keep a scruffy beard and longish hair. They fit right into our society. We have to recognize him as someone we can relate to. He wants to be invited into our homes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He wants to travel with us on the road to wherever we need to go for the day. He wants to be a part of our business meetings, our shopping trips, our school days, our week-ends and vacations. Invite him to the backyard barbecue or on a hike in the woods. Most importantly, open your heart and talk with him. He wants us to bring him all our thoughts and dreams, aches and pains… he doesn’t censor what we tell him…he hears. He may not always agree, but he always hears.

Most of the people of Jesus’ time on earth didn’t recognize him because they expected a king, a royal personality. Jesus was anything but royal. In fact, he was considered common, and he was challenged and criticized nearly everywhere he went. If they, who saw him in the flesh, couldn’t recognize him and accept him for who he was, how can we, when we can’t even see him?

And that’s where faith steps into the equation.

The woman at the well challenged him until he promised her Living Water if she would trust in him. Zacchaeus watched him from a tree branch, but when Jesus called him down and invited himself to dinner, the tax collector knew his greedy days were over. And Peter, whose tongue got him into more trouble than mine ever has, and that’s saying a lot, became one of the best known and most devoted of Jesus’ disciples.

Maybe you’re not the woman at the well, trying to avoid your neighbors just so you don’t have to watch them whispering behind your back? Or maybe you’re not in a profession similar to the detested tax collector. But many of us are overly eager to please, often saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. We’d like to control those words that roll off our tongues, but we just can’t do it alone. Or perhaps we’re just ordinary people living ordinary lives, but not taking time to really think about where we came from or where we’re going.

God can unravel any ball of twine we hand him, no matter how snarled and knotted it may be. Dan Walsh, What Follows After

There’s good news for us! Jesus can take all our burdens from our weary shoulders. He will meet us wherever we are…did you see that, Jesus will meet us wherever we are. And the best news is that He won’t leave us there. It’s an often-used phrase, but always bears repeating;

JESUS WILL MEET US WHERE WE ARE…BUT HE WON’T LEAVE US THERE!

It’s during the tough times that our true character sees the light of day. These are the days when life leads us down countless rabbit holes and tempts us with glitz and glamour. That’s when we need him most. That’s when it’s time for a little talk…or maybe a long and very deep conversation. And there’s no better time than at Christmas to start afresh! Get to know this man named Jesus, spend time with Him, and learn to recognize Him in today’s world. Give him the opportunity, and he’ll change your world.

I found that when I began including Jesus in [all] my thoughts, my relationship with Him naturally grew deeper and sweeter over time. My inner monologue turned into a conversation with my best friend. Emily E Ryan, Mornings with Jesus 202