How Close Are You?

I love pictures of people, especially watching John change. The pictures tell the story and we have more pictures of him than anyone else. He’s changing. Our Christmas picture last year looks different than this year because John has changed. (So have his parents, but our changes are much more subtle.)

I hope I am changing, too. But the changes I hope I see have nothing to do with my physical appearance, but are changes in me. We expect John to grow, but we should also expect growth within ourselves. I hope I am not stagnant. I hope I am not maintaining. I hope I am growing in the likeness of Jesus Christ. I hope that as I look in the mirror this Christmas that I see a different man than the one I saw last Christmas. I hope I see a better husband, a more loving Dad, one with less ties to material things, one filled with more compassion, one whose humility is growing, one who has a deeper love for all people, one who is more overwhelmed by the gift of grace and by this baby, this helpless child who proved himself to be the hope of this world and the hope of my life. I hope that my spiritual picture is changing – growing.

One area of growth for me is recognizing that growth will not come by my own efforts. I am always tempted to will myself to grow – to work harder – try harder – give up more. The intent is good, but the outcome is limited because I’m learning that I can’t grow myself.

Growth happens when we move closer to Jesus. How close are you? Are you one sitting outside the stable, peering in from a distance? You can hardly see his face. You are safe at this distance.

Or are you moving in? Have you entered the stable? Are you stepping forward? Are you willing to peer over the manger and look at his face – look in His eyes?

Will you reach out to Him? Even though he looks so fragile, so helpless? Even though, you have your doubts and are tempted to rely on yourself? Will you reach in? Will you touch Him? Will you give all that you bring to Him? Will you put your trust, your life in His hands?

To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:11

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11