Since Christmas is upon us, I think it is beneficial to reflect on Christ’s incarnation. Below I have attached a section of John Chrysostom’s (347–407 AD) eleventh homily (sermon) on the Gospel of John, which discusses John 1:14.

“Having declared that they who received Him were “born of God,” and had become “sons of God,” he adds the cause and reason of this unspeakable honor. It is that “the Word became Flesh,” that the Master took on Him the form of a servant. For He became Son of man, who was God’s own Son, in order that He might make the sons of men to be children of God. For the high when it associates with the low touches not at all its own honor, while it raises up the other from its excessive lowness; and even thus it was with the Lord. He in nothing diminished His own Nature by this condescension, but raised us, who had always sat in disgrace and darkness, to glory unspeakable. Thus, it may be, a king, conversing with interest and kindness with a poor mean man, does not at all shame himself, yet makes the other observed by all and illustrious. Now if in the case of the adventitious dignity of men, intercourse with the humbler person in nothing injuries the more honorable, much less can it do so in the case of that simple and blessed Essence which has nothing adventitious, or subject to growth or decay, but has² all good things immovable, and fixed forever. So that when you hear that “the Word became Flesh,” be not disturbed nor cast down, For that Essence did not change to flesh, (it is impiety⁴ to imagine this,) but continuing what it is, It so took upon It the form of a servant.”

John Chrysostom, “Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Gospel of St. John,” in Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and Epistle to the Hebrews, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. G. T. Stupart, vol. 14, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1889), 38–39.

The book of 2 Samuel (chapters 13-19) records the story of David and Absalom.  A story we are familiar with. A story of rebellion, deception, revenge, sorrow and regret.  Even with those sad descriptions there is that parent’s love for their child.   The bond between parent and child can be very strong.  In some families, the bond is a two-way street where both parent and child show that strong attachment, a love for each other that carries them thru the best of times and those situations that “try men’s souls”.  In some families the bond is a one-way street, love spurned by either the parent or the child.  Then there is the worst of families where it is a dead-end street, absolute zero love or concern for anyone.

Paul described the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5 as “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. It is these attributes that enhance and secure a family bond.  Parent and child should possess them. They are the embodiment of the life our Lord showed us while on this earth.  It is a road map of success, faith, hope and love.

When you place each of these attributes next to Absalom, you can see his failure.  By love, you see hate.  No joy only pride.  Peace is overshadowed with deceit and forbearance with revenge.  Meanness replaced kindness.  Goodness with deception, gentleness with harshness and a complete lack of self-control.

How different it might have been for Absalom if he had approached life with those God given traits for success.  I really sense the fear in David’s question to the Ethiopian (Cushite) messenger: “Is the young man Absalom safe?”.  We see the sorrow in those mournful words, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”.  After all that Absalom had done, David still had that father’s love for his son. 

Luke recorded the parable of the Prodigal Son.  As the son returned, it was the Father’s love that drove him to run to his son.   I look at my life and I see that same Father’s love that sent Jesus to live and die for his children.  A LOVE THAT ONLY THE FATHER CAN SHOW.  The Lord God Almighty will ask Jesus, his son: “Is that young man safe?”  How will Jesus answer?

In Luke 14:12-14 Jesus tells of inviting strangers to a dinner or a banquet. Jesus’ reasoning for this is “¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Being hospitable is fast becoming the most important aspect of our Christian walk – since COVID has made it the missing practice. As we come out of COVID we have a chance to restart hospitality the way Jesus intended it.

• Be cheerful when being hospitable. 1 Peter 4:9 (ESV) — ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

• Be sure to invite those who would normally be overlooked. Hebrews 13:2 (ESV) — ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

• Be sure to invite the sinners and the unpopular. Luke 5:27 (ESV) — ²⁷ After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”

If this pandemic has taught us anything it is that isolating individuals is more dangerous and has longer lasting results than COVID. Geriatrician Carla Perissinotto, studying 1,600 people over a period of six years, concluded that loneliness results in a “60 percent increased risk of functional decline and a 45 percent greater risk of death” (t.ly/uy6v).

Friend, are you ready to be friendly again? Then here are some holiday suggestions: invite someone over for a home cooked meal; invite someone to join you at the Zoo’s “Festival of Lights”; invite someone to join you at the Cincinnati Museum’s OMNIMAX; or, as Gideon suggests, invite someone to join us at  our next Fellowship Meal.

One of the main tenets of critical theory is the claim that the main motivation which drives history and human psychology is a lust for power. Instead of looking at things at face value, critical theory helps uncover hidden agendas and helps us to see through the rhetoric of marketing, politics, literature, religion, and other institutions so that we can observe how they are manipulating us. However, this theory is only one lens through which we can view the world and it is often overly simplistic. There are other human motivating factors that can explain people’s actions besides their lust for power. People are also motivated by practicality, love, and piety toward God.

Why is this important for the Christian? It is important because many people apply critical theory to the church. Sometimes Christianity deserves it, though. The catholic church especially has a history of being power hungry and striving for control rather than trying to love God, love others, and keep his commandments. Churches of Christ are also not completely blameless. We ought to join the critics of the church when they speak the truth of the evils done by professed “Christians” for the sake of power.

However, we also need to apply this critical theory to our own lives and our own congregation. Are we seeking after more power and more control over others? Are we trying to use God’s church to benefit ourselves, to gain more wealth and influence? Do we see our leaders manipulating us so that we give them more power rather than them empowering us? Christians are called to scorn power, to look at it as though it is nothing. Christ did that when he came to earth as a humble human being (Phil 2:5–9). He also said that those who serve and are least in this world are greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I urge you, do not fall for Satan’s trap and desire more power. God has given us enough power through his Son and through his Spirit. Let us be satisfied with whatever power we have and use it to serve others and build one another up.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand -Isaiah 41:10

The fear of making the wrong decision can sometimes cause us to make no decision at all. Often, we stay the course rather than risk making a decision that leads us in an uncertain direction.  As a result, we are stuck in indecision; living the same story repeatedly, unable to discern our calling for fear of making a mistake.

As Christians, we will have to make decisions to move forward, but we don’t have to be scared of making the “wrong” choice.  If we’re seeking God’s will, He will redirect our path when we take a “wrong turn” and take us where He wants us to go. Also, detours can be a valuable part of our journey.

We all want to make the “right” choice. However sometimes there isn’t a right or wrong choice – there is just a choice and it’s up to us to decide. As long as we are seeking God’s will through prayer and God’s Word, we are not likely to get too far off course in our decision making. That should give us confidence about making a choice – any of the good choices before you – in order to move forward.

Though we may never have absolute certainty in our decisions, we have certainty in God’s love for us. We receive a boost of courage to make decisions when we realize that any one decision by itself won’t determine our final outcome.

When you are faced with a decision, list ways in which you can rely on God’s wisdom to guide you through the unforeseen outcomes of your choices.

[Adapted from YouVersion Bible App Devotional: YOU ON PURPOSE by Shackelford & Denzel]

This morning, as I was rushing to lead a discussion on patience, a white Toyota had the nerve to swerve into the small gap between me and the car I was closely following. After slamming on my breaks and flashing my headlights a couple of hundred times, the emotional part of my brain started to give way to my sanity returning.

It is unfortunate how easily the impatience of others can produce instant impatience in our own heart. Friend, this ought not to be. So, what tools can we use to prevent impatience the next time we step into a long line at the Kroger Pharmacy?

1. Use this as an opportunity to meditate on God’s Word – specifically, Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2. Add to the meditation, deep and slow breathing. As you breathe in, feel patience filling your soul.

3. And, finally, the next time you hit the breaks for the other impatient drivers don’t allow your mood to become sour or heavy – instead, let God’s calming peace wash over your soul (your heart and mind, Phil.4:6-7).

Friend, with patience I have seen God do mighty things. Who can you be patient with today?

As a Christian, I have the radical belief that the cure for all the world’s problems is Christ. While disease and famine present many problems, one of the worst plagues in the world is humans. We kill each other, destroy, and exploit each other along with the resources God has given us. Even more tragic is that humanity is meant to love one another, care for creation, and walk with God. Christ remedies this ailment through his blood, his grace, and his Spirit. When we put our faith in Christ, we become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). We are whole. We are vivified and animated by the Holy Spirit and no longer by mere flesh.

As Christians, we live to Christ (Gal 2:20; Phil 1:21). By conforming ourselves to his image, we are conforming ourselves to the image of God (Col 1:15; Rom 8:29). James explains how conforming to Christ’s example of humility will cure inter-human conflict and intra-human conflict in Jam 4:1–10. In v. 1, James says, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” Our external conflicts with other humans arise from an internal struggle with pleasure. We want more pleasure, more power, more possessions. We attain our goal by taking from our brother and exploiting them. Furthermore, this conflict within ourselves and with other humans eventually turns into a conflict with God (v. 4).

However, James readily provides the solution. First, the solution begins with God who extends grace to us (v. 6a). Without God’s grace, we have no hope of redemption from our vices. However, the solution continues with our role: we must humble ourselves before God and others. When we humble ourselves and submit fully to God we are following Christ’s example (Phil 2:5–11). Just as Christ was exalted after his self-humiliation, so also will God exalt us in the last day when Christ returns if we humble ourselves. We will no longer have conflict with each other because we will not be at war with ourselves. We will attain peace through grace and humility.

Most people admit that humility is important, but few understand what humility actually is. I will begin by saying what humility is not. First, humility is not weakness. When we envision humility, we often think of being passive and helplessly letting people walk over us. We think of a measly person who is unable to stand up for him or herself when confronted. This is not the humility that the Bible commands. The suffering servant of Isaiah 53:7 showed Christ’s humility, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth;” (NASB). It was not that the suffering servant could not open his mouth to defend himself.  He chose instead not to exercise his power and authority as God’s servant. Think of Aslan in the Narnia books/movies: Aslan could have ripped off the White Witch’s head, but instead he allowed her to abuse him. Therefore, humility is not helpless passivity and weakness, but rather shows endurance and strong restraint at the proper time.

Secondly, humility is not self deprecatory. A humble person does not put themselves down. They do not turn down due praise. A humble person can and should take complements. Thus, while the humble should not brag about themselves and exalt themselves over others, they also should not downplay their accomplishments whenever someone complements them. Christians are supposed to give praise where praise is due (Rom 13:13). Therefore, you should not hinder others from fulfilling this command (plus, it is really annoying and rude not to take a complement from someone else). 

Thanksgiving was this past Thursday. It is one of my favorite holidays. We gather with family and friends, have a lovely, prepared meal, and watch football; nothing beats that. Thanksgiving is the time of the year when people reflect on what they have been thankful for throughout the year. It has been a year since the pandemic altered the way we spend time with family at this time of the year. I know it certainly changed the way I gathered with family.

Families have Thanksgiving traditions, which changed last year; that change in traditions was one of the many disappointing aspects of 2020. One we never want to live through again. As bad as it was, there were still reasons to be thankful. Regardless of the situation, as Christians, we should always be grateful.

In the first chapter of Thessalonians, we see how God wants us to be thankful.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 16-18 ESV)

During the pandemic, we all have seen our ups and downs. This past year, even with everything that happened, we have so much to be thankful for in our lives. We have to remember to be grateful and reflect. As Thanksgiving has come and gone, as Christians being grateful is something that to be done year-round. The holiday this year looked different compared to last year for many. I hope and pray everyone enjoyed the time with family and friends as well as resuming Thanksgiving traditions. God shows us his salvation, which is the greatest blessing of all and one we are thankful for every day. I challenge all of us to strive to be grateful no matter the circumstance.

Psalm 50: 23 ESV: The one who offers Thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly, I show the salvation of God!

In Psalm, we see the importance of giving thanks. Psalm 107:1 ESV: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!