Advent: STOP SAYING NO TO JESUS

"Remember that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it, is sin”, James 4:17.

Most people with a conscience at least sometimes feel guilty about sinful things they did. But what about the times we offend God because of the things he expects us to do, and we have not done it, called the “sins of omission”?

The story in Matt 2, about the Wise Men in search of Christ teaches an important message about sins of omission.

We all remember that king Herod’s reaction to the news that THE Christ was born, was one of hatred and attempted murder of the Christ-child. These feelings were eventually shared by the religious leaders Herod consulted in Jerusalem. They were disturbed by the Wise Men, the Bible says. Even though they revealed the location of his birth to King Herod, they did not consider going along with the wise men in search of the promised Messiah. No, they wished that the Wise Men were wrong about his birth. They did not want to worship the Child. It was simply too much to ask of them to have their well organised lives disturbed by the birth of the King.

Silently wishing that what God expects of me will just go away unnoticed if I ignore him long enough, is only a step away from outright hatred of it. When Jesus began his public ministry 30 years later, what was the response to Jesus of this disturbed group of religious leaders? It was one of outright hatred!

In the parable about the sheep and the goats on the judgement day, written in Matt 25:31-46, Jesus accuses the ‘goats’ on his left hand of sins of omission. He accuses them of work which they knew they had to do for God, but didn't! We cannot forget these words of Jesus: "I was hungry, but you did not feed me, I was thirsty but you did not quench my thirst, I was naked but you did not clothe me and ....."I kept sending you bible-based messages, sermons, bible studies, e-mails, blogs, but you never cared to accept them for what they are - the word of the living God!” (This last sentence does not appear in Matt 2 – but I believe Jesus wants to say it to some of us today.)

May you be blessed this Season, when you hear the good news about the King of Heaven who was born in Bethlehem, by surrendering completely to him, faithfully worshipping him with the Wise Men, seeking him, finding him, honouring him with gifts, loving him and following him with all your heart.

Being disturbed by the demands that Christ makes in our lives and on our lives so often lead to hating his demands (and eventually even hating him!) And it leads to the attempted murder of his Body, the Church. But when we worship him, expect him, wait for him, are ready for him, find hope, peace, joy and love through him, we will not be disturbed by his demand to follow him with all our heart. He will change our hearts and our lives and our eternal destination.

STOP SAYING “NO” TO JESUS THIS ADVENT SEASON.
For he certainly is coming back to ask you why you did.