Last blog led me to further thoughts. Christmas in July? Unbelieving people say Christianity makes no sense. Why would the Magi follow a star for two years? Makes no common sense. For a virgin to have a child does not meet with common sense. For the shepherds to find a King in a cattle stall does not make common sense. That the One crucified would live again was not common sense.
But common sense is so often mistaken. Although, as human beings, God gave us limited sense, he has also endowed us who believe with His spirit by whom we call him Father. With God as our Father, we as his children, are royalty. We are no longer ‘commoners’ with only common sense. We are now his priests and princes – we are the aristocracy of God with uncommon, extra-ordinary sense that comes by faith in the very One born in the manger.
In Isaiah 9 we find the verse that says “the people who lived in darkness have seen a great light.” That same light has shined into our darkness and those who acknowledge Jesus as the Christ enjoy the uncommon benefits of his light – wisdom, knowledge, understanding, purpose and hope – all of these and much more come to the serious believer and give him great understanding which gives him uncommon sense about the affairs of man and the world.
When Jesus came he said, “I am the light of the world.” On the sinner’s repentance and acceptance by faith He brings light into the heart. He is born in the hearts of the people. Every time a person receives Christ into the rough and unfriendly stable of his heart, Jesus is born again. He expects us to receive him into all we do so that he may become fully formed in us. We are bearing his light in the world. Common sense does not get this.
In the Christmas carol, O little town of Bethlehem, the third verse says, “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray’ cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.” This transaction goes far beyond common sense.
It isn’t far to Bethlehem town – its anywhere that Christ is invited in, finding in someone’s inviting face a welcome and an abiding place. The road to Bethlehem runs right through the hearts of people like me and you. Its not common sense to receive Christ but it is an uncommon event when God says “To as many as received Him, to them he gave the power to become sons of God.
No longer commoners.
Author Shirley Harder 