Topical

When I was about eight, I had the sweetest Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Ferris (also one of my best friend's mom). I can remember when she introduced me to the concept that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and yet we are the ones that get the gifts. Why is that? I remember that she told us what Jesus really wanted for his birthday was our hearts. Not really understanding the concept that my heart is a metaphor for the essential being within me, the "me" that I am, the "real" me of my thoughts and will, I was a little bothered at the idea of having to make do without my heart if I gave it to Jesus as His birthday present.

What was Jesus planning to do with all these hearts, anyway? Seemed pretty strange to me, but not as strange as when she told me that Jesus wanted to live in my heart. Is that like the little old lady who lived in a shoe, or what? Jesus must be very small in order to be able to live in my heart, as my heart was certainly smaller than me, and (at that time) I was a very little person.

As a grown up "mature" Christian, I now understand that what she was trying to teach was that Jesus wants to save me from my sin and for me to subject myself to His authority in my life. See "What is the Gospel" for more on this concept. And, I must confess, I don't precisely remember the nature or extent of my confusion on the subject at that age, but it makes a good launching point to talk about "what does JC want this Christmas?"

So, what does He want?  Well, I had to think about that for a few minutes before I could come up with a good, Biblical answer (and Biblical answers are the ones that really count).

First I thought about all the news items lately about cities and town around the USA that are forbidding nativity scenes and other references to Christianity to be displayed on public property. Does JC want me to wage a campaign against this injustice and religious persecution? It is so tempting, because, as I read the Constitution, we have a right to free speech, including religious displays, particularly on public property. Should we not stand up for our rights, even if it means legal action?

Then I thought about the public schools here in California that are banning the singing of Christmas carols in school that contain references to Jesus. We can sing about the mythical all-knowing, all-wise Santa Clause ("he sees you when you're sleeping - he knows when your awake - he knows if you've been bad or good" - down right creepy if you ask me), but not the real reason that Christmas exists in the first place. Does Jesus want me to call the School District and complain that He is being left out of His own birthday? Does He want me to start a letter-writing campaign or petition drive to send to the school board?

I think also of the Target stores that are banning The Salvation Army kettles this year. I know that The Salvation Army provides hundreds of thousands of toys to needy kids at Christmas, not only in urban inner-cities, but also in rural America. I know that for many of those kids it's the only toy they get at Christmas. I know that The Salvation Army through the next year will provide many meals and many people a place to sleep and demostrate the love of God as well as preach it. I know that The Salvation Army isn't perfect, but they do a lot more prison visits, warm clothes taking, food and cool water providing for the least of the Kingdom of God, than any other church, anywhere (Mt 25:31-46). Should I boycott Target stores and should I give sacrificially or volunteer my time to The Salvation Army? Is that what Jesus would want this Christmas?

What does the Bible say that Jesus wants? Then I was reminded of Micah 6:6-8:

With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my first-born for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? _(NASB)

Nice words and it has been made into a nice song, but what does that man practically? How can I do justice? What does it take to have a demonstratable love of kindness? How can I walk humbly with God?

Jesus wants me to do justice. Since I'm neither in law enforcement nor the judiciary, how can I do justice? Well, justice is about fairness, isn't it? I have to ask myself, "am I fair in all my dealings?" Am I fair in the execution of my duties at work? Do I give a days work for a days wage? Do I do my share (and more) of the work at home? Do I treat my children fairly and dispense consequences that are fair to the infraction and helpful to their learning discipline?

{mosimage}Jesus wants me to love kindness. The best way I can think of to love kindness is to practice it and encourage it when I see it. Being gentle with those that are hostile and stressed is an amazing way to set ones self apart from the world. But do I practice kindness in all areas of my life? Am I kind to my coworkers and even those who are stressed and out of patience with my inability to solve their problem in the time frame they expected it (usually "yesterday" or the day before)? Do I treat my children with kindness, even when they have disobeyed or disappointed me? When I'm just out and about (perhaps even shopping for Christmas presents) do I treat people with kindness whereever I meet them, even if they have just taken the parking spot I was waiting for with my blinker clearly indicating 'dibs'? When I am waited-on my a waitress or a shop keeper, do I always remember to say "thank you" for their kindness to me? Or do I take it for granted?

The last one, it seems to me is tough. Jesus wants me to walk humbly with God. What does it mean to walk with God? Ephesians 5:1-10 says:

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formally darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

We can see from these verses that there is a metaphor of walking that has to do with the pattern of deeds one after another that take us through our days and weeks and months and years. Just as we put one foot in front of the other and step from one step to the next, leaving behind those footsteps we have already taken and contemplating those footfalls that are yet to come, we move through our lives from one deed to another, one activity to another. Are these foots falls in a pattern that imitate God and godliness?

Look how specific the Apostle Paul is with what it means to "walk in love" and "to walk as children of light," which he equated to being an "imitator of God" in the first verse. He is talking about purity and God-centeredness, rather than being self-centered, or materialistic. Do I shun these things in all degrees? Is my life strictly a pattern of footfalls that follow in the paths of righteousness? If Jesus has my heart, is my heart - my inner being - following His instructions in my life to even the very utmost degree?

This is what Jesus wants from me this Christmas, and always. He wants more than just my heart; He wants all of me that there is. I commit myself now, again anew, to give Him what He wants, which is ultimately what is best for me. Will you?