DECEMBER 28, 2023
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Over this Advent and Christmas season I have been doing some
reflection on what the Bible is asking of me, or teaching me through the
readings from Isaiah, Matthew and Luke. What I began to see was that these much-loved
narratives in the Gospel’s invite us to be receivers. Now I know, that seems a
bit contradictory to how we mostly respond to the Christmas message. The strong
emphasis on giving and generosity is the focus.
Think of the last month in our congregation, we did a lot of
giving, served free community meals, held a Community Food Drive for our local
food bank, we transformed a bare tree in our entry into this colorful Mitten
tree for children in our area, some of you baked cookies that we were able to
share with over 40 families, and our GEMS club gave the gift of time and song
to carol in our neighborhood, with all of that we still gave our financial offerings
in support of our church. This is an amazing testimony to biblical motto of “it
is more blessed to give than to receive.”
What I have been wondering though, is if a greater emphasis
ought to be placed on our being receivers. Reread the Matthew and Luke accounts
and I believe you will notice, that the message of being receivers is boldly
taught. The texts seem to go to great lengths to demonstrate that our power,
talents, our capabilities, had little to do with what God was up to in Jesus’
birth.
Commentator and
Preacher Will Willimon puts it this way,
“God wanted to do
something so strange, so utterly beyond the bounds of imagination that God had
to result to the strangest of means, a pregnant virgin and angels and stars in
the sky to get it done.”
What I see in all the characters, all the manger people, is
that all they could do was receive the amazing gift that God gave to them. It
is the same for us, isn’t it? With Mary don't we respond with
What I am trying to say is that the faith that results from such
a story as the birth in Bethlehem is guidance in how to be a receiver. A recipient
of what you may ask. Grace, the unearned, unmerited gift that God gives. What
did the angels sing? “Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom
his favor, (grace and goodwill) rests.
Generosity is important, we get that from God’s word and God’s
action toward us in Jesus. But, receiving is equally important, and is biblical
too. God comes to us and blesses us with a baby, and then invites us to see
ourselves for who we really are, empty-handed recipients of a gracious God who,
rather than leave us to our own devices, gave us a life transforming gift.
2 Corinthians 9:15
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
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