It is the time to be jolly.
But for many it is a difficult time. We have lost five members of our church to COVID-19. One member lost both his mom and dad. I’m sure many of you have lost loved ones or friends. We must pray the vaccine and those already immune will create a “herd” immunity before long.
A year ago none of us would have dreamed this would be happening. My wife and I have almost fully recovered from our bout with the monster.
Sometimes it is difficult to keep our focus on things eternal. But we must not let our temporary problems steal the joy of the season. While the cross and resurrection are primary in the overall picture, neither of those things would have happened were it not for a plan established before the foundation of the earth.
God saw it would be necessary for deity to become flesh and live among men. How could it be? The creator of the universe would humble himself to fit into the womb of a teen age girl and be born in a natural yet supernatural way — perhaps 20 inches long, weighing maybe 6-8 pounds.
He would cry in the night when hungry and need his diaper changed as all babies do. The term Immanuel was applied to him. That term simply means, “God with us.” We have heard it so much we take it for granted. In reality it was the greatest miracle. It was God’s love gift to us. “For God so loved that he gave.”
Truly, he was born to die. That was his purpose. His closest followers couldn’t understand it. One of the clearest word pictures of the purpose of his life and death is found in 2nd Corinthians 5:15.
“And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” It changes our perspective. Paul continued in verse 16, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” Jesus saw people as objects of love and compassion, not as projects to increase our worth or position.
As a part of the Ministerial Alliance, my role is to provide financial assistance to families who need help with their utility bills. It gives me the privilege of entering homes of many families who are struggling with various issues. Single moms make up a number of these folks.
We can help them with temporary assistance but we are often helpless with the deeper problems. I sometimes ask myself, where is the church in the midst of these problems? I’m not talking about dollars and cents, but more about coming alongside, developing a caring relationship, seeing them as Jesus would, without judging how they got themselves in this position. How can we be Christ incarnate to these, our brothers and sisters? They need more than an invitation to church, although most have never even had that.
They need to see that we really care. They need to see Christ in human flesh. What are our plans and where is our intentionality? We are often too comfortable in our safe world. As I ponder these things I pray for a vision and a passion, for courage to act, a will to obey, and a faith to believe that these lives really matter.
If any of you would like to send a Christmas card to an inmate at the Custer County Jail please contact me via email and I will send a name and instructions. To comment, email jhm82@outlook or call (580) 772-2311.