Because Not Everyone is Excited about Christmas.

Posted Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 4 Comments

A new king is a welcome and exciting development

Unless you’re the current king and you’re not interested in being dethroned.

You think I’m talking about Herod, don’t you?

Really, I’m referring to myself.

Some days, I make room for Jesus and

Flock with the shepherds to the manger

Other days, I’m enjoying the fit of my seat on the throne of my own life

And I order all potential threats murdered in my own streets,

a bloodbath by my own decree.

The scandal of Jesus is that He insists He’s the original royalty

And that He will rule your life or

Find shelter in another heart.

The offensiveness of being told to remove one’s self from

A well-warmed throne

To make room for another

Never gets old, does it?

It’s newly offensive every morning

Along with His mercies

And His faithfulness.

So, some days I’m all about the shepherds

But other days, I find Herod staring back at me from my bathroom mirror

And I remember why Jesus’ arrival

Caused a stir.

He doesn’t take well to being ignored – love Him or leave Him but make a choice.

Jesus.

Scandalous. Offensive.

The stone that makes men stumble and the rock that makes us fall.

He didn’t waft down from Heaven on a cloud,

God hurled Him into humanity like a rolling stone

And He emerged the old-fashioned way with blood and ripping screams.

Jesus.

Are you traveling with the wise men seeking Him at great cost to yourself?

Or are you putting a hit out on Him like Herod hoping to keep the throne of your life to yourself?

Big questions. Something to consider. Advent – because not everyone is excited about Christmas.