I confess that big has been the theme word for my life too. I want my books to be big hits. I want to make big money. I want to own a big house. I’ve even found justification for this in Scripture. Doesn’t God want to enlarge my world? Doesn’t God want more for me?
I’ve always thought so.
But God’s word to David in 2 Sam. 2:7-11 arrests my attention. Here David offers to give God what all of us seem to be after—a big house. David wanted to build a grand temple in which God could dwell, but God said no. He said he liked living in a tent. He enjoyed being close to people. He had no desire to move up in the world.
Big is not a word that impresses God.
How much more sharply do we see this in the birth of Jesus. John says that the Word became flesh (John 1:14). He “tabernacled” among us, tented that is. Paul said that he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing. I’ve never heard this stated more eloquently than by the poet John Donne, in his poem “Nativity.”
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves His well-belov'd imprisonment,
There He hath made Himself to His intent
Weak enough, now into the world to come.
Now leaves His well-belov'd imprisonment,
There He hath made Himself to His intent
Weak enough, now into the world to come.
My life has been about seeking to gain. Jesus life—God’s life—moved in precisely the opposite direction.
There is no time at which God’s ego and mine are set in sharper contrast than right now—at Christmas. For now we are reminded of all that God gave up and all that we wish to gain. We remember that he grasped for thing, while we grasp at nearly everything. God made himself small, and we seem always concerned with making things bigger.
Here’s my challenge as a preacher this week. How can I get people to pay attention to this direction in their lives without being preachy?
I have no desire to campaign against Christmas traditions, but to point people toward the fact that Jesus moves us in a direction we would not choose, toward people we would not choose, into situations that we would find confining or beneath or dignity.
How can I get people to think seriously about what this means: That God so loved the world that he gave?
In what kinds of situations might this apply for us?
How can I tell when it’s really God telling me to “lower myself”?
What does it mean for me to love others as Jesus loves me?
How can I help people to feel that they truly are loved by God?
What do you think?
4 comments:
What does it mean for me to love others as Jesus loves me? This speaks volumes to mean Larry. Personally I see this as loving unconditionally, accepting people simply "as is". Without saying "If she/he would only. . . We are loved as we make mistakes (and even repeat them). No matter how we look, what we wear, where we live, the education we do or do not have. As Christians it is important that we do not push our beliefs onto those searching for life answers in the infancy of faith. To an infant making mistakes an adult can sometimes be a harsh reminder of inadequacies. It is at this time when unconditional love and acceptance should be given. When you open your mind to the experience that everyone is struggling to get to the right place in faith, it is easier to be kind, courteous, and a faith partner.
My family has so enjoyed your life lessons on Sunday mornings.
Michele Dowd
I read 2 Samuel 7:1-11 with accompanying meditation my Upper Room Disciplines this morning! That writer, Susan Muto, suggested that God does not want us to build Him a house. He wants us to make the whole word His dwelling place.
My takeaway from that was that God wants me to look for ways to share His love in my everyday situation. We often think we have to do some great, high-profile work of service for God, but we really need to concentrate on the "house-keeping" things like feeding the poor and visiting the sick.
How can I help people to feel that they truly are loved by God?
Aren't we supposed to love them when they are not at their lovliest?
Shouldn't we go to them when they are having great problems?
Shouldn't we remind them of God's love when they have these trials?
Cecelia Lester
Hey team ... Thanks for sharing these thoughts. I loved communicating this message yesterday. It is such a delight to deliver the good news to people that God loves them. I hope it had that effect on those who heard it.
Your thoughts and comments inspired me!
Post a Comment