Ready for Christmas?

The weather forecasters are telling us that the next few days will be windy and wet - possibly a mild understatement, but you know me! I wouldn't want to overstate the case to get you attention.

And the shops are staying open longer today than normal, and maybe even staying open longer tomorrow. This is all supposed to help us get ready (=spend MORE money than is necessary) to mark the birth of Jesus in a humble stable. That seems odd in the extreme.

How is it that we have forgotten God's style (humble service) and replaced it with worldly flashiness?

So are we ready?

St. Paul reminded his friends in Philippi how they should behave. It seems there are lessons for us all as we approach the birth of our Saviour. 'Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; 

he took the humble position of a slave 

and was born as a human being. 

When he appeared in human form, 

he humbled himself in obedience to God 

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

(Philippians 2.3-8)

I pray that we might draw closer to Jesus in these next days, and recall that we are not trying to impress one another with what we do or how we do it. I think that would please Him.

Best wishes,

Richard