Merry Christmas

As the year winds down and we pause to consider the incarnation I am reminded of the fact that Mary and Joseph had no place to stay in Bethlehem. Sometimes we forget the impact of certain details of a familiar story. Mary was pregnant and gave birth in a stable! The natural, yet phenomenal process of bringing the Son of God into the world was not an easy event. Why would Mary have hardship in bearing Jesus if she was in God's favor? Didn't the angel say she was "blessed among women?"

I think anything worth having is worth struggling for, and I think that is often the way of God. Mary was blessed to be the mother of the incarnate Almighty God, which also meant she suffered! She had to endure: scorn and rejection as a pregnant virgin; pregnancy and labor pains; uncomfortable, humble circumstances for birthing; and then fear for her child's life as they fled to Egypt to escape Herod's decree to kill all male babies that year.

It is worth noting that anytime the Kingdom of God is expanded it is done through suffering. Consider the Israelites entering the promised land--what blessing to be those who take possession of centuries-old promises to the patriarchs! However, to take the land they must face their fears of the "giants" who live there and wage war. People suffer horrid wounds and die in warfare. Blessing and turmoil go hand-in-hand and I could site countless examples (read Hebrews 11.)

I am encouraged to know that the most pivotal people in history who played major roles in God's agenda, who are considered the most blessed people ever, had to take the suffering with the blessing. Be not afraid of the pain, rejection, uncertainty, and risk! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! As I plan to launch a church I must keep this perspective. I do not throw wisdom to the wind and I try to live a balanced life, but I also know that if we never risk going "all in" we can expect little reward.

Jesus was "all in" as he left his Father's side to become a helpless babe; to grow up as a hard-working laborer while keeping every aspect of God's law. He endured the curse of God on the cross and lay down his life for the lost sheep. There was no half-stepping or short cuts for Jesus even as he anxiously awaited the wrath of God in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is the the greatest victor of all time and the most blessed man in history. Great gain at great risk and great suffering.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and remember that it is not about elves, cookies, consumerism, or even merely family, but the beginning of the most important life of all time... the celebration of the point in history when God would venture into the fallen world as a man and redeem it with his own pain. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!