From the monthly archives: December 2010
In the move It’s a Wonderful Life, we watch George Bailey as a self-sacrificing man versus Mr. Potter as a self-serving man. The whole town of Bedford Falls is a better place because of George Bailey’s sacrifices. In the Nativity story we see St. Joseph as a self-sacrificing man versus Herod as a self-serving man. Joseph made the world a better place and set a new standard for manhood. What was Joseph’s secret? He was humble enough to trust in God rather than himself, and God gave him everything he needed to succeed. Do you trust in your own strength or in God’s? [click post for audio content]
The Nativity Scene is a beautiful image of peace and tranquility. However, if we zoom out a little, we see the struggles that led to this moment and the trials that followed it. If we look even farther, we see how this moment is a key piece of salvation history and a whole new beginning for the human race. God, infinitely good and powerful, has chosen to be small and weak in order to walk with us and be one of us. God has a human face. [click post for audio content]
We have just passed the winter solstice and the world is at it’s darkest. Today on December 25th there will be 2 more minutes of daylight. Slowly the light will fill the darkness until summer comes. Christ is the light of the world. Each child born staves off death a little longer by the gift of new life. Christ is the life that is the light of the world. May His coming bring you Light and Life. [click post for audio content]
We all look forward to opening our gifts. What gifts would we expect from God? Maybe love, joy, peace, help for a particular situation, or forgiveness. God has sent us a gift today, what do you think it will be? We open it and we find: Baby Jesus! Why would God send us a baby when it isn’t what we asked for? There is an old story of a millionaire that explains why: Whoever welcomes the Son gets everything else too. Is there room in your home and your heart for Jesus?
If you have been praying through Advent, you have probably noticed two things: First, your life is a little better than when Advent started. Second, you still have a long way to go. As we start to make room for God in our lives, we start to realize how much we really need to give to God. Ahaz did not believe that God was really with him, but God gave him a sign anyway. Joseph was not ready for the baby Jesus, but he welcomed Mary anyway. Even though we are not worthy of Christ, we have to welcome God into the mess of our lives, and he will make us worthy of him. What did the stable have that homes, inns and palaces of Bethlehem did not have? It had space for Christ. Make space for God and he will do the rest. [click post for audio content]
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