Naivety of the Nativity

Beginning with the birth of Christ, one cannot help but picture the serene greeting card Nativity scene that has become the normal depiction of the circumstances behind first-century obstetrics. Unfortunately, this was indeed not the case with Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph. For the sake of decency, we allow ourselves to be completely naive and oblivious to the truth behind Christ's entering the mortal world. Mary, being young (speculated as being in her early teens), put herself under great scrutiny and ridicule by volunteering her body to conceive what, in the eyes of the early Jewish community and by today's standards, would be an illegitimate child. Unlike today's norm, this acceptance, then, could bring an early and untimely death for young Mary. It would be correct to say that Mary was the first to accept Christ. How cool is that? Secondly, there is Joseph. In my opinion, Joseph probably had to defend the honor of his family until either his death or that of his adopted Son. First was the humiliation and feelings of doubt in the trustworthiness of his future bride. Secondly was his consent to remain betrothed to Mary, though facing the shame of a pregnancy that could not be explained.

When the census came around and the journey to Bethlehem was necessary, Joseph did not have to bring Mary, especially in her fragile, pre-delivery state. It was probably necessary , however, to get Mary away from the small town way of life that was so stricken with controversy.

So after nine months of awkward explanations, our Savior was born under the most humiliating of circumstances possible as if to change the preconceived concept of favoritism. From the beginning, as it would seem, Christ had not been dealt the best of hands. Born into poverty, later a refugee out of Egypt speaking the trader's language of Aramaic, it seemed very unlikely that this was the Messiah the Jewish race had been waiting for as prophesied by those of the days of old. But He was!

So as you busy yourselves with the labors of the Christmas season, don't simply remember a manger scene. Fast-forward 33 years to the reason why He came. To die on a cross. To forgive me. To forgive you. Remember His gift of atonement; His blood. Remember the cross.

Are You Living or Existing?

Sometimes as I'm dozing off to sleep, I have the greatest thought provoking messages. I am currently on a 48 hour shift at the fire department and am incredibly tired, however this seemed too good to sleep on. As I was drifting to sleep; thinking; meditating on the day's events and passages I had read, the tones went off and we had to respond to a call. Now, almost two hours later, I am writing this because I will not be able to sleep until I do.

The question I pose is the title of this entry: Are You Living or Existing?

Picture yourself at the Grand Canyon. It is a beautiful and majestic site to behold. The terrain has been perfectly sculpted for our viewing pleasure by the Colorado River.

Now the canyon, in all of its splendor, well, just sits there. It is stagnate and mute; existing. The river, on the other hand, is flowing. It is moving and yet still cutting away at the rocky crevices. It is living. I use this analogy because this is the expression of many "Christians" today. They exist in the knowledge of Christ yet refuse to live for Him. In Matthew 28:18-20, Christ commissioned us to "Go":

• Not just to church to absorb sermon after sermon only to forget about it before the ball-game starts. We know more lyrics to songs, statistics of athletes, and what's coming on the television for an entire month than we do God's holy Word. cf. Romans 2:13
• And subsequently not just to study His Word in its literal, historical, and grammatical context (hermeneutics) without ever practicing and applying them to our everyday lives.

Jesus said, "Go":

• make disciples
• baptize [disciples]
• teach [disciples]

It is time to begin living for Christ and not just existing by His grace. Here's a few questions one may ask themselves to see whether they are living or existing for Christ.

• Are you praying?
• Are you testifying the love, grace, and mercy that was given to you with others (i.e., your testimony)?
• Are you excited of the gift that was given to you?

Additionally, a very important consideration is if your acceptance of Christ to be Lord and Savior over your life was truly genuine. Did your lifestyle change? Did it remain changed?

Scripture says that it is not for us to judge, however we are to remain diligent in the recognition of other believers by the fruit they have and continue to produce (Matthew 7:15-16; 20). Otherwise our ranks may be infiltrated by a formidable and determined enemy that is hell-bent (pardon the pun) on our destruction.

So what fruit have you produced? What fruit do you bear? Are you living for Christ by the application of His Word in your everyday life and practices or are you merely existing in a knowledge of Him?

-blessings