Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Our humble loving Savior

The kids after their Christmas program at church.
This Christmas we have spent much time reflecting on the love and humility of Jesus to leave the rich perfection of heaven to come to earth and be born in a stable. He did this because He loves us enough to be willing to live on this sinful, broken earth among us, sinful, broken people. Jesus leaving heaven for us, sheds new light on Him calling us to leave our comfortable home and move to Uganda. Our "sacrifice" seems so little in light of His.
The Christmas carols that I have loved for so many years are now meaningful in a new way. As I think of the "tidings of comfort and joy," I am reminded that comfort and joy comes from remembering that "Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day, to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray." That is true comfort and joy! The short term comforts and joys of consistent electricity, of the conveniences of America and even of being near to family and friends, cannot bring the lasting comfort and joy that we can have in Jesus.
For many years we have sung, "Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, all for love's sake becamest poor." Now we are planning to move from one of the wealthiest countries in the world to one of the poorer countries, by human standards. While there will be some material sacrifices involved, it will be nothing in comparison the the sacrifice Jesus made, leaving the riches of heaven to come to earth as a man and die for us. Phillipians 2:5-11 says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)
It is my hope that this Christmas we all will remember the amazing love we have received through Jesus and will humbly serve others and follow wherever our Lord leads us in joy!
Merry Christmas!

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