Thoughts

Not long ago I visited Elmbrook Church with a friend in Waukesha who attends there. In his message, Pastor Philip Griffin compared King Herod and King Jesus. Did you know Herod was a possession and power freak? His building projects were lavish, and he killed anyone that he thought threatened his position of power, including wives and sons. Jesus, on the other hand, came in humility, poverty and vulnerability. He had abandoned omnipotence, riches, and position to come and rescue us. No one threatened him; he came because he chose to love us.

Herod followed his own will; Jesus fulfilled Scripture by following his Father's will, so that we might have the power to do his Father's will. "Behold, I have come to do your will," he says. "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:9, 10)

Herod, as we have seen, bought his kingdom with the blood of others. There was no other way for him to become great than to kill any and all opponents. Jesus, the only king worth following, bought his kingdom with his own blood. "Both believed there was nothing that couldn't be accomplished by the shedding of blood", Pastor Griffin said. Think on that statement a minute, and you will see the vast divide between our King Jesus and any other earthly king.

We look to possessions, power and position for security and fulfillment. Or, we look to comfort and stability. Or just happy lives. Jesus gave all of it away so he might not lose one of those his Father had given him. Let's follow him in settling in to what God has for us, no more and no less. And rejoicing in it.

Contemplating Christ

It is particularly appropriate, I realized just this minute, that our discussion in Sunday School this week touched on Jesus and the ways in which he relinquished the very things that spark our self-talk: Power, Position, Self-protection, and Self-promotion. This very week we celebrate that relinquishing. Think of it anew: the God who created the universe and the law which sustains it, the one with all power, gave it up for us. Philippians 2 tells the whole story. "Though he was in the form of God, [he] did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." And we, who crave power and control, who want to take on the form of God in the lives of others, who love positions and promotions, are the recipients of the mercy that required that relinquishing. He did not protect himself, though he had the power to do so. Instead, he protected us. Just look in the Garden of Gethsemane.

John 18:7-9 tells us that Jesus stood between the soldiers and his disciples, demanding that they take him and let the others go. "So, if you seek me, let these men go." This is our great I AM, the God of the burning bush, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, bending to the status of created beings, protecting us here, so that he would not lose one of those God gave him.

Meditate on this truth as you celebrate his first coming as one of us; think on this: your life is hidden with Christ in God, hidden in this one who saves and protects you by giving up his own protection. And have this mind in yourself which is yours in Christ Jesus, this mind that relinquishes. This Christmas, maybe we can let go of our desire for power and protection, and hide ourselves in our Savior. Merry Christmas.

Cookies!

The first annual New Hope Christmas Cookie Exchange!

A good time was had by all . . .

Christmas

In the absence of a Sunday School class to review this week, we'll open the blog to you. How about sharing your favorite Christmas tradition or memory?

Self-Conversations

I like to think that when I talk to myself, I'm the only one listening. Woe to me if my thoughts were ever broadcast, even to my dearest friends. I kid myself, though, if I really believe that no one else hears me. Psalm 139 assures me that "He discerns my thoughts from afar" and "is acquainted with all my ways". Admitting the truth that none of my secret thoughts are secrets to God is the first step in changing my thought habits. I need to let the searchlight of God's Word shine into my thought life and show me where I are telling lies to myself, stripping away the veneer of pride, self-sufficiency, self-protection, control, selfishness, bitterness, discontent and replacing it with His truth.

How often do we say, "Yes, I know the Bible says that. No, I don't think it applies to me today in this situation"? We love God's Word so much, yet when it comes to obeying it, we really like to pick and choose, don't we? Can we obey the simple admonitions in Philippians 4:4-7? Can we rejoice instead of complaining and whining, no matter what our circumstances? Can we, really, choose to not be anxious about anything, instead praying and giving thanks in all things? Can we accept God's peace in all the upsets of our lives? Indeed, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Jump to the very next page, to Colossians 1, to see this Christ who purports to strengthen us. Is he able to do it? We're quite a handful, to be sure. You'll find the answer in verses 15-20. And when you've been reassured that he is indeed able, read on to see what has become of us. Oh glorious God that changes self-absorbed sinners into people holy and blameless and above reproach! Soli Deo Gloria!

Jean