Power and Might

Oh, God was thinking. He was thinking indeed. The Bible says that God so loved the world that he gave his son, Jesus to save it. In order to save the world, Jesus came to the world not wrapped in power, but in swaddling clothes.

As a baby the savior of the world, anointed by God, was born in the lowest of places, a manger. Why? If God wanted to save the world, then why not come as a mighty force, a wind, a storm, a plague, a voice from the heavens. Could he not have called with a voice that only he could use and brought all of humanity to its knees? Of course he could, but to what end? Humans would no longer find themselves free, but cowering in terror.

So God choose not to use power, but the wonder of love found in the gentle coo of a baby and the warmth of open face of a new born

God's Gift?

In the years before the birth of Jesus, the Jewish people had been told by their prophets especially Daniel that a Messiah or anointed one would be coming soon to bring the Israelites back to prominence as a people, a nation. So who would this Messiah be? Certainly someone of royal blood or lineage. Certainly someone who is educated. Certainly someone who has access to seats of power.

But who did God anoint? Who did God appoint as his Messiah? God sent a baby. God sent a baby born of a teenage mother and a carpenter, who lived in a remote, small town. One must ask: “Where is the royal blood? How could he be educated? And what kind of access to power would a baby, boy or man from a nowhere town have?” The answer is none. What is God thinking? Is that all?

Gift giving and Love

For a long time, I linked gift giving with love. The bigger or better the gift meant the more or greater the love. Maybe you think the same way. Who can blame us? That's what commercial after commercial tell us. But the commercials only feed on what is in us.



When I open my presents and discover the clothing, the book, the electronic device, the watch, or cash, I am happy, but then in the back of my mind a thought creeps in. It is like a little voice calling from a deep dark corner of my mind. The voice speaks softly, but clearly. It says, "Is that all?" And then the voice makes me think: If they love me, I mean really love me, then I would get more. Then I always shake the thought away. But the voice never leaves willingly.



There is a way to shut up that little voice. The first step is to uncouple gift giving and love.