What I will share with you today first appeared in a magazine article I wrote almost twenty years ago. I believe it is all still true.
At the heart of the New Testament faith is a God who does almost nothing the way he is supposed to. Who would have ever expected he would show up on our planet? The God of the logicians and the philosophers would never do that. Even if we thought he might appear, who would have ever expected him to come…in diapers? To think that God who is by definition limitless, would choose to take on the greatest limits that we know, can certainly trip all your circuits. And yet, that is the message of the New Testament.
Who would have ever thought this up? Certainly it wouldn’t be the logical conclusion of Judaism—the religion of God, the exalted and high and holy one. And yet right in the midst of first-century Judaism, the story arose. Immanuel—God with us. Immanuel—God with us as a helpless child, totally dependent on others for everything. Immanuel—God as one of us.
But why? Because he cares about relationship. He wants to draw near. He wants to be accessible. He wants to be known. He is willing to go where gods don’t go. He is willing to know the weakness we know. He is willing to start at the bottom. Incredible! His coming in Jesus the child reveals to us that God, of all things, is humble! Who would have ever thought it? Whose courses in logic or philosophy would have ever led us to that conclusion?
God in diapers! God in diapers showing us that he has a heart, showing us how far he is willing to go to be near us and part of our experience; showing us that God and man were meant to be together—not in different worlds.
Do we get the point or has one too many Christmas pageants dulled our thinking? The God of the universe broke into our world as a baby to keep us from being deceived by the glitter and power and the prestige and the politics, to show us that in his Kingdom getting down in the trenches with one another is more important than getting one up on one another. What matters in life is not how high you go or well you promote yourself, but how much you give of yourself and how you connect with others around you. What matters is love. That’s the message of God in diapers.
May God bless you and let this message flow through you this Christmas season.
O come, let us adore Him!
ReplyDeleteGreat insight, and wonderful way to start the week.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is amazing how often that humility always hits me right in gut. This morning in particular, I needed a huge dose of the humility pill with my kids and yet, when it was the most important I didn't take it. I am reminded that the MOST HIGH God humbled himself for ME. So, the next time HE gives me the opportunity, and I know HE will, I am pray that I will take the humble approach!
ReplyDeleteCharice
Savannah Church of Christ
Wow! Humility just isn't my strongest characteristic at all. Yet, when I read about God's humility, I guess I am blessed to be in the humble position that I am in. In my non-humble state I have seen myself literally DISCONNECT from people because of how low I seem to them (through my own eyes). It is difficult sometimes to see how others get respect when I get ignored in the workplace. I have forgotten to be known for genuinely caring for people! Thank you for that reminder. It ISN'T about how much respect I get, but how many lives I impact for God.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom. I love your insight and your heart. I was talking to a friend today about the humility of Christ, coming into this world as a baby through a young virgin girl. God is humble.
ReplyDeleteHave a very happy and joyous Christmas Tom and Sheila.
love,