The Advent Season- The season of humility 

Written by Pastor Jason Kinnick

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Greetings beloved saints of God at CCF,
     The Advent Season is upon us!!!! Hopefully you are making time to contemplate the birth of Christ and the mystery of the God of the universe taking on flesh to save us. Our great God who decided to begin His journey in this world as the weakest human form of all…an infant. Actually, not even an infant but an embryo, subject to all of the dangers in the material world. Is there any true way we can fathom that?? Don’t try too hard, you might hurt yourself. Well at least I did…

     If you can humor me for a moment, I would like for you to play a game with me. Think of the most valuable possession you have in this life, and if you are going to say “God” that’s cheating, pick something else. It could be a relationship, or a possession with great emotional significance, or perhaps one or all of your children. That’s what we are looking for, something like that. Would you be able to let go of whatever it is you have chosen to help someone else? You would never get it back, it would be gone. Could you do that? The difference between the game we just played and what Christ did for us pales to compare. Hopefully it helps to get your grey matter moving while you are contemplating the birth of Christ this season. What we would think is the pinnacle of existence, being like God, Jesus loosened His grip of it to become like us so he could save us. 

     The Apostle Paul encourages the believers in Philippi to take on the same mind that was in Christ when He humbled himself and took on flesh. My encouragement to you all is to do the same. Being a person who is willing to suffer and put others above themselves, is a person who is beginning to understand what it means to be like Christ. 

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name

     I recognize that for some of you, this time of the year isn’t as joyful as you would like it to be. Maybe you recognize it too and feel like you are falling short when you witness others excited and happy and full of joy. For you it is a struggle. The nature of pain is to draw focus to itself and suck you into its vortex and hold you there. What I have found is the only way to break free from its grasp is to turn your focus outward and upward. If you can be courageous and make a real attempt to serve someone else, practice the encouragement of Paul to the Philippians and give Glory to God in the highest and be thankful. It is the best shot you have to stir up your joy. If you find it is still a struggle, don’t despair. God loves you and wants to teach you something in the midst of it, keep at it. 

God bless you all, His mercy is everlasting

Shalom. – Pastor Jason