ADVENT REFLECTION VERSE
Luke 2:11 (ESV)
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Consider what it means that Jesus came into the world as the Savior. How has His saving work affected your life? Spend time writing about your personal experience of Christ’s salvation.
Ah, here it is, Christmas time again!
It is time for caroling, gathering with friends and family in holiday gladness, exchanging gifts, eating good food, watching Christmas movies, and decorating the tree.
What’s that you say? Jesus is the reason for the season? What’s that about salvation? I’m good, thanks! After all, I’m a nice person living by a moral code of decency and kindness. Surely, that’s enough to be alright with God, yes?
No, it isn’t enough. That’s how God found me and countless others.
I often wondered and hoped that my “niceness” would be enough to reconcile me with a Holy God. However, we could never be good enough on our merits. Our sinful nature, inherited through the original sin of Adam and Eve, prevents us from meeting God’s high standard of holiness. (Genesis 3:7-13 )
We are separated from the love of God. (Colossians 1:21; Isaiah 59:2 ) No amount of behavior modification, good works, church attendance, or religious adherence will give us the right standing with God. (Romans 3:10-17; Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 2:2-3 ) In light of this, I was going down the wide path of destruction without realizing it. (Proverbs 16:25 ) But thank God for God!
Somewhere inside of me, I never forgot about that intriguing figure of Jesus of Nazareth.
As a 13-year-old, I was introduced to Jesus, not in church or from a witnessing Christian but from a study on “Jesus Christ Superstar” in my junior high school English class. (Romans 9:15-16; Matthew 18:14 )
Fast forward to a woman at her kitchen sink, intently listening to the words of Jesus spoken by “Jesus” in the secular movie, “King of Kings.” (John 16:8 ) Then there was the time my son (he was just a little boy then) asked a seemingly random question, “Mommy, could you tell me about Jesus?” (Psalm 8:2 )
In His mercy, God ministered to and drew out a woman who was steeped in popular culture, a slave to fear, and starving for love, truth, purpose, and meaning in life. (Psalm 27:8 )
This emphasis on Jesus in my heart and mind parallels the centrality of Jesus as the author of salvation. (Hebrews 12:2 ) My thoughts about Jesus were God’s prompting to move me from an abstract interest in Jesus to the realization that without him, I would not be able to reverse course. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6 )
The Christmas story took on a new life-giving meaning. It was more than presents under the tree. The biggest gift is Jesus himself, who came to save me and give me eternal life. (John 6:40; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 4:14 )
Heart Checks:
Why would God choose flawed people to spread His gospel message?
Do you think that God may sometimes use the secular to get the attention of those he wants to reach?
