Christmas is fun and special. It is for buying gifts. Christmas is noisy and sometimes stressful. Certainly, Christmas is beautiful. Mostly, Christmas is necessary. Humanity, especially me, needs a Savior and Lord.
Throughout human history, we have proven that our ability to run the show has been a dismal failure. If given power and authority, we oppress. If we help people in the wrong way or too much, they stop trying and expect others to be responsible. We lie, cheat, steal, kill, abuse, etc. No government works very well for very long. The whole world system is a mess.
Christ came to earth declaring himself as supreme ruler. His kingdom is foreign to us. We want him to blow away our enemies; he tells us to love them, pray for them and do good toward them. We want him to promote us because we are his faithful followers; he tells us to die to our self-interests and to live for others.
The best human effort is a dismal failure. Perhaps, Christ's way is a better way. Perhaps his kingdom is superior to our ways. We looked for a conquering ruler; he came as a shepherd caring for his human sheep. Isaiah 40:10-11, "Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules from him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."
In Ezekiel 34, God promised to send us a shepherd who will search for the lost sheep. He will rescue them from the places where they have been scattered. This good shepherd will feed them with good pasture. He will strengthen the weak and heal the sick. He binds up wounds. This shepherd brings justice to the oppressed. When God came to the earth, he came as a shepherd.
In this season of Advent, as we celebrate what the Lord has done in coming to us, we also look for his coming again. Peter exhorts us in 2 Peter 3:11-12, "...what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..." As we reflect on Advent and look forward to Christmas, let us hasten the coming of Christ by taking up his mission of tending to the human sheep. In Matthew's gospel, Christ looked with compassion upon the crowds coming to hear him and to be healed by him, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were harassed and helpless in this state. Christ made a statement in this moment, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
We, the body of Christ on the earth, are the answer to Christ's plea. Christmas is necessary, because we need a shepherd. Let us observe this season by seeking the lost, healing the sick, binding up wounds and feeding his sheep.
Peace,
Stan
Throughout human history, we have proven that our ability to run the show has been a dismal failure. If given power and authority, we oppress. If we help people in the wrong way or too much, they stop trying and expect others to be responsible. We lie, cheat, steal, kill, abuse, etc. No government works very well for very long. The whole world system is a mess.
Christ came to earth declaring himself as supreme ruler. His kingdom is foreign to us. We want him to blow away our enemies; he tells us to love them, pray for them and do good toward them. We want him to promote us because we are his faithful followers; he tells us to die to our self-interests and to live for others.
The best human effort is a dismal failure. Perhaps, Christ's way is a better way. Perhaps his kingdom is superior to our ways. We looked for a conquering ruler; he came as a shepherd caring for his human sheep. Isaiah 40:10-11, "Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules from him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."
In Ezekiel 34, God promised to send us a shepherd who will search for the lost sheep. He will rescue them from the places where they have been scattered. This good shepherd will feed them with good pasture. He will strengthen the weak and heal the sick. He binds up wounds. This shepherd brings justice to the oppressed. When God came to the earth, he came as a shepherd.
In this season of Advent, as we celebrate what the Lord has done in coming to us, we also look for his coming again. Peter exhorts us in 2 Peter 3:11-12, "...what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..." As we reflect on Advent and look forward to Christmas, let us hasten the coming of Christ by taking up his mission of tending to the human sheep. In Matthew's gospel, Christ looked with compassion upon the crowds coming to hear him and to be healed by him, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were harassed and helpless in this state. Christ made a statement in this moment, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
We, the body of Christ on the earth, are the answer to Christ's plea. Christmas is necessary, because we need a shepherd. Let us observe this season by seeking the lost, healing the sick, binding up wounds and feeding his sheep.
Peace,
Stan
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