Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
ON HANDS AND KNEES
We are tempted to think we need to be strong if we are to be okay in life. The world tells us we need to dig deep inside ourselves if are to make it to the top. The ever popular philosophy is that it's the proud, not the humble, who become the big winners in life.
Yet Advent calls us in completely the opposite direction. It tells us that getting ahead means getting down on our knees and admitting our weakness. It tells us that we don't have to dig far beneath the surface before we find a heart corrupted by sin and looking inside ourselves will never get us very far. The message of Advent says that while pride might make for winners in the world's eyes, that's not the way God looks at things.
Pictures of the Church of the Nativity in Palestine show a very tiny entrance that no one but a small child can enter without first getting down on hands and knees. Apparently it was built this way so that marauders couldn't get inside the sanctuary on horseback. But what a telling picture! For only those who stoop down with humble and repentant hearts can enter into the presence of the Christ Child and find in Him what we all so desperately need, forgiveness and the way beyond the grave. A proud reliance on self will always refuse to admit sin and bow before the Bethlehem Babe.
Yes, He came for all. He went into death and hell for all. He came as God wrapped in human flesh to bring salvation for all. But His Word says to all: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
O Jesus, crush our pride, and give us a trusting childlike faith in You our only Savior.
