During this season, it's important to remember the real reason for the season. It's not about presents or even traditions. It's not about angrily claiming the right to say CHRISTmas. It's not about lights or candles or trees. It's not about politics or a culture war. (don't get angry, keep reading) It's not about human charity or even love as we know it or can even conceive of it.
It is about an uncomfortable sacrifice. It is about God choosing to leave the glory of Heaven and come down here to become one of us and live through the trials of humanity. It is about God in all of his majesty, who was known as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night to His people, humbling himself and choosing to take the form of a baby born in the most meager of circumstances.
It is about God's realization that if He wanted to win our hearts, majesty alone would not do it. Becoming a kindred spirit and experiencing our pain would be the way to win us over. My dad tells a story of a missionary friend from Africa who tried to explain the idea of the Holy Spirit to his congregants. He couldn't really explain the idea of a comforter adequately, so he explained the idea of the Holy Spirit as "the One who lies beside you in the ditch."
As we celebrate Christmas, remember that all of the trappings that we have added on to this holiday season are still pretty great, and they should be observed and enjoyed with family and friends; however, when you have a moment alone, reflect on the beautiful miracle of mercy that was Jesus coming to earth. God incarnate coming here to lie beside us in the ditch all to win our hearts and our trust so that we would follow Him. Remember that it was for you that He chose to do these things, and the gravity of knowing that your Creator loves you so intensely that He did not want to allow you to live in this world with pain, sin, and sadness without taking it on Him self.
If you are having a painful Christmas season, there is Someone there shouldering the burden with you. If you are having a joyful Christmas season, there is Someone celebrating alongside you. He urges you to do the same for your brothers and sisters as well. Shoulder someone's burden or share their joy today, forgive someone, knowing that you are following Jesus in His model of how to be human. Do it as a sacrifice and your act of worship today as a reminder of how we should live every other day, too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment