Just a thought...

A lot of people get upset that Jesus has to share a spotlight with Santa Claus this time of year, however, can you name a time of year when he has more spotlight? You can't turn on the radio without hearing songs about him or go to the store without seeing many artistic recreations of his birth. You might say Easter, but Easter does not take the nation's attention for a month and a half the way Christmas does. My point is, I'm shocked and elated at how much spotlight Jesus draws this time of year. Just a thought...

What are you doing here?

With the celebration of Jesus coming already upon us, I thought it would be good to ask him "Why have you come?"

I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. (Matt 5:17)
I have not come to bring peace tot he earth. (Matt 10:34)
I have not come to be served. (Matt 10:28)
I have not come to judge the world. (John 12:47)
I have not come to call the righteous. (Matt 9:13)

I came so that my sheep may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
I came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
I came to be a light for those in darkness. (John 12:46)
I came to save the world. (John 12:47)
I came for judgment, that the blind will see and those who see will be blind. (John 9:39)
I came to do God’s will, bringing eternal life to those who look to me. (John 6:38)
I came to preach. (Mark 1:38)
I came to bring a sword and fire, turning families against one another. (Matt 10:34, Luke 12:49)
I came to fulfill the Law and Prophets. (Matt 5:17)
I came to serve. (Matt 20:28)
I came for THE hour. (John 12:47)
I came to ransom my life for yours. (Matt 20:28)
I came to be king. (John 18:37)

I hope I didn't miss any.

Innocence

This is my favorite picture. In this moment, they both seem perfect.

However, I have been taught that biblically, the term perfect refers more to completeness or full maturity than it does to sinlessness (thought that would be part of the the completeness). If that's true, and I believe that it is, is it true that babies are perfect?

We often say that they are. They have not yet soiled themselves with lewd thoughts and hurtful behavior. But if perfection is completeness or full maturity, then babies are about as as imperfect as they come. They have long way to go to get to perfection. This is obvious in the physical, emotional and mental aspect, but they certainly have a long way to go spiritually as well.

If perfection or completeness is defined by the pure and selfless love of Jesus, as I contend it should be, then again babies probably have longest to go. As much as I adore my children and many, many other children, I have to concede that they are selfish. I love my ten month old son with all my heart, but I admit that for the thousands of tears that he has already shed, not one have been for anyone but him. I very much doubt that he has any concept of how his mom or dad feel or what they're going through. Of course, I would never hold that against him. I don't expect anything different. I don't expect the same level of perfection (maturity) from him as I would an adult.

These are some things that have been running through my head that have been altering how I approach spiritual growth. Jesus asks us to be perfect. If it were just about sinlessness, I could point to the cross and declare, "Done!" But it's about full maturity too (which is also a gift of grace by the constant work of the Holy Spirit, but requires me to be in concert with him).

It changes my approach to parenting too. I must be equally concerned with teaching them to love selflessly as I am about enforcing my list of "Thou shalt not's".

And it alters the way I view many other things. For instance, the excuse "I was born this way" loses all steam when we realize we were born as imperfect as possible.

What do you think?