It May Not Be Christmas, But Jesus Is Still Here

December was a blur for me. Between, once again, having a child in elementary school (Grinch Day, Scrooge Day, Ugly Sweater Day, Flannel Shirt Day, etc. --It doesn't stop, and I am NOT kidding) --having an entire household sick with the Who-Knows-What (that was the formal diagnosis), all the "extras" that go with fostering (We're thinking of installing a revolving door), holiday preparations, and the normal "life" stuff, Christmas seemed to come and go without so much as a nod. So, I'm sort of celebrating Advent now. I can't say that's a bad thing, too often we stow away the nativity, wrap up the star, un-deck the halls, and stick the Son of God/ Son of Man back in the attic until He comes again next year. But I'm lighting candles each day and taking those quiet moments to meditate on His humanity as well as His deity. 

Today's passage was Galatians 4:4. In the Complete Jewish Bible, it's smack dab in the middle of a sentence which is smack dab in the middle of the point Paul is making. The Gentiles in Galatia were falling for the oldest trick in the book: legalism, self-righteousness, religion. Paul explained, they didn't need to follow laws regarding circumcision and diet to prove anything to God; their faith was sufficient. He goes on to say, the Torah (Old Testament Law) was a guardian, like a trustee is appointed over a child's inheritance. God's promise to His people was that they would be heirs to His kingdom, but the law kept them safe, teaching them to act as kings should act and carry themselves as people of God should carry themselves. Once their promised Inheritance came in the form of Jesus --His birth, death, and resurrection being the only work that was now sufficient to bestow on them their new identities --they were free to "spend it" as their hearts desired. Their worship, service, stewardship, and sacrifice no longer had to meet the strict criteria of Torah. They were wrong to return to methodology and wrong to tell others they should be subject to it. God's Law was now written on their hearts through faith; they were free! In Galatians 4:4, Paul says that Jesus was born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm in order to redeem those subject to legalism.

Here's what came to mind: an episode of Undercover Boss. A franchisor disguises himself as just an average Joe, and visits one of his locations. He rolls up his sleeves and takes his place working for, subjecting himself to the franchisee. The franchisee brags about the business, the policies, the products, but to the franchisor, it's unrecognizable; it's nothing like the business he designed. The franchisee has added specials to the menu and tacked on a delivery charge; he has altered the dress code, and he takes a portion of the servers' tips. He is wildly successful, but the employees are feeling burdened by so many policies and so little return. They are even beginning to talk trash about the brand! Delivery is slow despite the additional cost, and the food is lukewarm at best. New customers are unaware the drinks have been watered down and the food is now of a lesser quality, but those who've been loyal for years have noticed the change. Some just shrug their shoulders; What can we do? That's when the franchisor reveals his identity. He is there to deliver all who sit at his table, all who endorse his work ethic and his vision, all who work for him and are committed to doing his work, all who long for something better. 

Jesus did this and more. He entered a world where mankind had so perverted the truth of His Word, few realized things were not as He intended. He made Himself subject to the authority of rabbis and elders, parents and business owners, neighbors and Roman soldiers. He rolled up His sleeves and dove right into the fray, the fray of a world that bore little resemblance to the one He'd created. And He does the same today. He meets us where we are, not with condemnation, but with understanding. He gives His all today with the same dedication, generosity, and love that He gave every drop of blood on the cross. His Spirit lives within those who confess Him as Lord and Savior, an opportunity He offers to all who will seize it. The message of Christmas need not pass you by.