While We Were yet Sinners

Sometimes during the holiday season, we’re blessed to hear praise for the Savior in a much more public forum than at other times of the year. While I know that Jesus’ incarnation deserves no more glory and praise in December than at any other time of the year, I find myself being very thankful that there is any time of year in our secular society when more people take the time to think about that baby in the manger. Mostly, I find myself wishing that these same people would flex the mental and emotional muscles that are required to really contemplate the grown-up Jesus–the one who taught the difficult sayings of Matthew 23 and Matthew 19; the one who gave us the keys to the kingdom that’s eternal in Matthew 16.

I heard this song emanating from a popular radio station a couple of days ago. I looked up the lyrics–words of poetry from the perspective of the wise men. These are the kinds of words that you just have to wish were not once-a-year sentiments for typical people in “christendom” today. There really is only one God who poured out His heart for unthankful and unholy people. While we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). May we step up for the King who stepped down–every day of every year. May we remember that his incarnation is not just about a manger in Bethlehem. In fact the “good news” is his death, burial and resurrection (I Cor. 15:1-6). May we learn, in the process of becoming thankful, how to become holy. And may we be willing to make the difficult daily decisions required to follow the Savior back to the Father. So many will give Him a nod of recognition this weekend, almost as if greeting an acquaintance at an annual business convention. Then He will be relegated to his eleven months of practical irrelevance. For those who know ABOUT Him, but who do not know HIM, judgement will be severe, for with knowledge comes responsibility. Finding comes from seeking, receiving from asking and open doors from knocking.

I want to claim more than a place in “christendom.” I want to be in Christ. Can I help you give Him the relevance He requires in your life during the next year? It’s my prayer that, through this blog, there may be one woman who finds the gospel–the good news for every day of every year–in 2012.

How Many Kings?
How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me.