As I sit back and look through the sales ads and dream about what I would like to get my family (and myself) this Christmas, I can’t help but think that there might be something that Jesus would like for Christmas.
It is interesting that as I enter into the season, which should be the most “wonderful time of the year”, I feel a sense of regret and shallowness. The problem of humanity throughout history has been our incredible ability to focus on our own interests and desires above those of others. Now at this stage of my life, having children has been in many ways a true “means of grace”. For those unfamiliar with this phrase, what I mean is that God has granted me a portion of His grace by giving me a family. There are times when I would love to be able to focus on what I want to do, accomplish, or even indulge in but have been limited in doings so because of the needs of my family. While this may come off as a bother at times, it is actually a blessing and way in which God imparts grace to me (and others). This gives me the benefit of taking my focus off of myself and giving it to that which is most significant. Christmas should be a time when we are able to take our focus off of ourselves and place in it on the Holy, Eternal, and Truly valuable.
I pray that God would give us the hearts to understand and comprehend the gift that he would like this Christmas.
If I am to grasp the “REALITY” of the Christmas event, I must begin to take my eyes off of self and place them upon that which the Father desires. In the book of John, Jesus mentions that he could only do what the father is doing. I wonder what are we doing and in what ways are we serving ourselves this Christmas? As children of the Living God, what actions, this Christmas, come closest to the heart and desires of our Father?
What gift is God asking of you this Christmas?
5 comments:
Good post, Jim. I think God is trying to tell me something...perhpas I should shut up and listen???
Great thoughts, Jim! Worth reflecting on at this time of year.
I like the post Jim, it's good to hear from you after a while of silence.
I spent some time with Jennifer's extended family this holiday seasonm and it brought about a series of emotional "dilemas" or "feelings." They are a collection of non-Christians, and it is interesting to see people who don't know Christ as their savior celebrate His birth...I just wanted to share that, it brought up some emotions in me.
I like your thoughts on becoming self-involved or "indulged" as you so eloquently put it. And I completely agree with you about your family as becoming a means of grace, it is amazing how God works.
Which raises a question -more like a tangent but I know how much you enjoy taking things and running with them (as long as they are logical.) Have you seen the last temptation of Christ? It is a film-and I haven't seen it-although I heard that the "last temptation" purely taken from an artistic standpoint is Christ on the cross about to die and he is wondering what it would be like to get off the cross and have a family be a dad, grow old and get married.
I'm wondering --only in thought with your post--NOT IN OPOSITION-- is family primarily a means of grace or is it a temptation to worldliness? Just a thought. Enjoy--Merry Christmas, see you back at the start of a new semester.
Bek and Char -
Thanks for your post and your encouraging words.
Josh –
This is a great question.
I would have to say that family, on the foundational level, was intended as a means of grace (among other purposes and value). I am familiar with the story you are referring to and in Jesus situation it may have been a temptation away from what the Elohim had willed. However, we can only speculation upon what he might have felt.
One interesting dialogue that might come out of this is whether or not something is a means of grace only inside of a relationship with God or if some things actually are a means of grace because God has ordained them as such (even if the individual participant has no knowledge or formed relationship with Christ).
Coming from a Buddhist worldview or perspective, you could legitimately argue that family is a temptation toward worldliness, (or separation from the Brahman) and therefore bad. In this understanding anything that leads one further into a separated and further from a “CONNECTED” mind is in a since bad. Although, they would never use the term bad to describe this as they do not believe that it exists.
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Here is a question for you. Being part of the Elohim and the community of the trinity or God; would it have been possible for Jesus to actually have chosen such an action if he were tempted?
J.W.
the orthodox answer to the question you raise is: "No, because Christ is perfect and could not choose sin." (If we are to assume that such an action where a temptation that would lead to sin.) Now I'm sure, as you wrote that comment you were snickering because my mind is flaring up with what I'm taught and with what I believe. So in a round about way, here is what I think: The opinion of an undergraduate 21 year old white suburban male.
Jesus could do whatever He wanted. If He wanted to have a family, then by all meals, he could of had a family, which would not have diminished His divinity at all (of course this is purely speculative--the family part, not the divine part.)
However, since Christ was submissive to the will of the Father, if the Lord had not wished/willed/pre-ordained/desired for it not to be done, then Christ would not have done it.
I hope that answered the question and didn't dodge it.
Blessings.
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