Love in a rough, smelly place!

Reflecting on Luke 2:1-7

"She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger." (Luke 2:7)"

After many years of Christmas celebrations, this statement seems normal.
But imagine hearing it for the first time?
A manger, an rough, smelly animal feed trough?
Compare this to where your children (if you have) were born.

The Glorious God became human, and was born with the animals.
The Creator of the universe was laid in a human-made manger.
The contrast is infinite, and it should shock us to think about it.
Yet it rolls of our lips and through our minds without much thought.

This radical incongruency illustrates the good news of God’s kingdom.
When we think of kings and kingdoms, we think of power and majesty.
Thrones, palaces, royal robes, golden halls, colourful tapestries.
We think of military strength and abundant food and wealth.
We think of enemies defeated, rules enforced, everyone obedient.
God enters our world in the most unlikely, unexpected way.

God rejects power and wealth, position and prestige.
God chooses the lowest place, rather than being elevated above.
What moves God is the power of love, not the love of power.
This is not incidental to the story; IT IS the story!

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

It is through humility and grace that God restores the creation kingdom.
This is how God in Jesus saves us.
This is what God in Jesus saves us for.
We are called to join Jesus in humility and grace.
We are called to be servants, not monarchs.
We are called to release power, not to grasp it.

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

These words are also so familiar, we quickly overlook them.
We do not feel the radical meaning of these words.
And many do not give any thought as to how to live them out.
God’s greatness is not seen in His power and authority.
His power and authority is seen in His humility and grace.
This is what makes God great, and how God makes us great.

Practically speaking, what does this mean for me?
How am I being a slave to my neighbour?
How am I being a slave to that person or that group?
What am I giving up for others, how am I being humbled in a manger?
The life of a Christian is not marked by obeying the 10 Commandments.
The life of a Christian is not seen in church attendance or bible study.
The life of a Christian is seen in our active humility and grace.
Of course, when we live this way, we do keep the 10 commandments.
And we will use the bible, and rely on others (church) for support.
But the mark of a Christian, and a church, is God-like love.
Stepping into the rough, smelly places, for the sake of others.

What is the manger-like setting that Jesus is sending me to?
How am I being wrapped in humility and grace, for the sake of others?
May the good news of God’s love for me shape how I love God and others.
May I be wrapped in humility and grace, and put in rough, smelly places.
Motivated not by the love of power or position…
But motivated the position and power of love!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You were tightly wrapped in cloths, and put in a manger... for me, for the world, for love. Help me to see You, and others, through this lens of humble, gracious love. Help me to join You in the rough smelly places, in order to serve and bless those who are living there!