Readings for today: Hosea 4-5, 2 John 1, Psalms 125, Proverbs 29:9-11
“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (2 John 1:12)
We live in such a lonely world. Though we are more connected than ever, our relationships are superficial at best. We no longer know how to talk to each other. No longer know how to engage each other. No longer know how to share with each other. I see this particularly in my children’s generation. It’s amazing to me how scared they often are to make a simple phone call much less talk to someone face to face. Of course, this isn’t just a “millennial thing.” People across the age spectrum are finding it hard to relate to each other.
I remember years ago being asked by an older woman if I would come talk to her neighbor about Jesus. I asked her how long she had lived next to this person. “Over thirty years” was her response. And why have you never shared Jesus with her? “Because we only talk about the Packers and the weather.” What do you know about this person? “Well, they lost their spouse a few years ago. Went through a bout of cancer. Struggled with their kids a bit.” And you’ve never shared Jesus with them? Never taken them a meal? Never invited them over for dinner? Never prayed with them in the midst of their struggles? “No”. The look on her face was heartbreaking. She simply did not know how to get from the Packers to the deeper issues her neighbor was struggling with. I can sympathize.
We live in a world that fosters disconnection from real, flesh and blood, face to face relationships. The busyness of our daily lives creates relational distance. The pace we try to keep promotes exhaustion. The activity level we maintain connects us with lots and lots of different people but prevents us from spending the kind of time we need to build deep, intimate friendships. The result is isolation. Loneliness. Social anxiety. Fear. These things conspire to create a vicious cycle that only leads us deeper and deeper into despair.
Contrast this way of life with the way of Jesus. The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation. This miraculous idea that God would actually leave heaven to come to earth. The Word becoming flesh and blood and moving into our neighborhood. God becoming one of us that He might see us face to face. Go eyeball to eyeball with His beloved children in order to draw them into intimate relationship with Him. I’ve often had people ask me why God couldn’t make His will more plain. Why can’t God make His love more obvious? Why doesn’t He just write us a note and spread it across the skies? Because God doesn’t work like that. God’s not into text messages or social media. He’s not going to shoot you an email or hit you up on Snapchat. He came for you. He’s coming for you. He will not rest until He gets to look you in the face and tell you of His deep love for you. This Christmas season, may we not only receive His love but share it face to face with those around us.
Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 6-9, 3 John 1, Psalms 126, Proverbs 29:12-14