Advent Week 3: Luke

Being of low status is a common theme in the advent story that is found in Luke. Elizabeth was an outsider in her own family for not having produced a male child for her husband, Mary had not even enter the age of adulthood when she found out her pregnancy, and the shepherds were men who were offered the first chance to worship the new savior born into this world, despite being considered by their religion to be dirty people and therefore unfit to participate in temple worship.  The fact is this, Luke continually shows how God uses those of humble status to be a part of His plan.

But why is this humility important? Why are the humble raised up, while the haughty are lowered down? I believe that only in humbleness do we find our need for Jesus, only in humbleness can we truly accept him. Think about if for a minute. If one were to think they are great, that they can control those beneath them, that they are powerful, then why the need for a savior? There isn't! However, when one comes to realize how sinful they are, how much of a distortion they are of God's original intention, then they realize their need of a savior.

 But here is the important thing that we must remember as Christ followers, this humbleness is to never stop, we are not to become haughty in knowing that we are now part of God's chosen while others are left out, yes even the haughty; even those darn political opponents who are on the side of Satan; even those who kill Christians; even those who kill babies; even those who kill the image of God in general; even those who lie, steal, fornicate, lust; even those who (insert egregious sin here). Okay, so you get the point by now. The reason we have no reason to become haughty ourselves is this:our newfound glory (some newer than others) is the result of nothing we have done, but is rather the result of someone else's action. 

So Really, what do we have to brag about? Very little to be exact, the only thing we have to brag about is how great our God is, as opposed to how great we are either as an individuals or as a church. The truth is this: that even though we have been and are continually raised up by God, we are in effect still sinners. No matter how much we grow, we still break the Law of God, and we will until we are glorified after our deaths.  And therefore to judge/ look down upon others is quite a rather ridiculous action. It would be like trying to remove a speck from someone else's eye while having a huge stick protruding from our own (don't praise me for my originality in that  think someone else already used that image). Anyway, you get the picture right? I hope so.

So as we await for the coming of Christ in this advent season, let us remember this one important thing, to walk humbly, because that is one thing that the Lord requires of his people.