Advent 2018: Humble Service and Christmas Love

In the spirit of Hebrews 10:24, I offer the following words to incite others to love and good works. May we in this Christmas season find ourselves like our Lord wrapping a towel of humility around our collective waists as we pursue the greatest job ever—loving those God has loved in a way that they do not expect.

Remember, Jesus came as a child—a seemingly defenseless, helpless babe. He lived among us as a “normal” person—he worked with his hands, he talked to people, and he showed them love. He was human (in the “flesh” as John and Paul tell us), and in community with us he revealed to us the character of God: selfless love, humble service, and unmerited grace. Jesus also encouraged and admonished his followers to serve one another, to outdo one another in being kind and in service. "The one who serves is the greatest" says Jesus.

Do we really believe it? Often I don’t think so.

I am reminded of my call as a Christ-follower--I am to offer debt-free love and service to others with no expectation of reward. I am to love as Christ loves. I am to lay down myself so that someone else may live. I am to live simply so that others may simply live. That isn't the American dream, now is it. What person in our community has gone days without a hot meal? Who are the "little ones" in our neighborhoods who are wounded, hurt, dispossessed? Will we love Jesus enough to love them?

Steve Camp used to sing a song that said something like "Can we taste the tears that they cried?" The song deals with loving the unlovable, embracing those others avoid, touching the untouchable. Jesus did that. He walked right up to people with leprosy. He put his clean hands on their decaying flesh. He touched them. He loved them.

Remember when Jesus took a child and set the child in the midst of his disciples? He encouraged his disciples to develop a child-like tendency to trust God (see Matthew 18:1-6). He says to them "Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble . . ." Well, you probably remember the rest.

Earlier Jesus had told his disciples that to offer others even a "cup of cold water" in the name of Christ was considered a good thing to do.

Jesus also encouraged and admonished his followers to serve one another, to outdo one another in being kind and in service.

"The one who serves is the greatest" says Jesus.

Do we really believe it?

Who are the "little ones" in our areas who are wounded, hurt, dispossessed?

Will we love Jesus enough to love them?

Who are our modern day lepers? Are they the drug addicts? The alcoholics? The divorcees? The liberal democrats? The conservative republicans? The victim of cancer, aids, etc.? Are they the orphans of war? The ones left behind by our refusal to care?

Finding them isn't hard--they are out there.

Loving them is harder. They may even share a home with us.

May we learn today to offer debt-free love and service. Like Jesus may we learn to take joy in the smiles and laughter we receive. May we (like Jesus) even be willing to be killed by those we love and yet love them anyway. May we learn that humble service is greater than power, prestige, or position. May we love as Jesus loves us. May we humble ourselves to serve others in his love. Merry Christmas! 

Thanks for reading!