God’s blessed brat…

Putting up Christmas decorations is putting my focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and on all that He has done. This babe in a manger overwhelms me. He knew His life would be taken from Him on a cross. He knew He would suffer for the sins of the world, an enormous assignment that overwhelms my mind and as I gaze at the manger scene, all this brings both angst and joy to my heart. The joy part is expressed here:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17–21)

The deep trepidation that comes personally is because new life means more than joy. Paul expressed how serving Jesus, this babe who grew and died for his sin, would lead him and all who follow Him with our whole hearts. There would be joy and goodness, but also trials:

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:2–13)

This year is about my 56th year of being a child of God, five decades of new life. I cannot help but reflect. My hardships were not like Paul’s; he suffered for serving Jesus. I suffered to learn lessons about my sinfulness and God's faithfulness. Paul experienced the joyful and comfortable blessings to keep him from giving up. I have experienced blessings perhaps for the same reason and not because of persecution or the resistance of others to what I do. Satan buffets me to keep me from praying and loving God, but I’ve not experienced those other hardships. Not that I want to, yet His grace does make me often feel like God’s spoiled brat.

Either way, trials from others or trials of ordinary life, God has blessed me by using them as He promises:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)

And then I read the prayer of another who said, “Not relief from pain, not relief from the weariness that follows, not anything of that sort at all, is my chief need. Thou, O Lord my God, art my need—Thy courage, Thy patience, Thy fortitude. And very much I need a quickened gratitude for the countless helps given every day.” (Source)

PRAY: Lord, every decoration and gift under the tree is my reminder of what Paul says, “Since I have these promises, may I be cleansed from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) This is the wonder of the babe in the manger. Such a task — for all who sin, for all time, in every place — all who hear Him speak,  and who say YES — including this spoiled brat.