A Baby Born Abroad

Comfort zone, learning zone, panic zone.  

Ready to get restless?  

God calls people out of their comfort zones, off their couches, careers, and countries to let him get all up inside them.    

He called the father of Israel Abraham out of the pagan land of Ur to settle in Canaan.  He transplanted Daniel to enemy Babylon where Daniel served a foreign (and ruthless) government faithfully, with honour, and distinction.  

He called me out of my home country; he may do the same to you.  Ready?  

 

When people become Canadians, they gain rights:

•  legal rights;
•  equality rights;
•  mobility rights;
•  freedom of thought;
•  freedom of speech;
•  freedom of religion; and
•  the right to peaceful assembly
•  the right to hold certain jobs
•  the right to vote
•  the right to hold public office

At the same time, there are obligations; there are duties; there are responsibilities.  Every Canadian is responsible to:

• obey Canada’s laws;
• help others;
• express opinions freely while respecting the rights and freedoms of others (sort of like freedom of speech with an asterisk);
• care for and protect our heritage and environment; and
• eliminate discrimination and injustice.

Rights and duties go hand in hand.  

When Jesus came to earth, he gave up his rights (like omnipotence, for starters). 

Christ Jesus… though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Phil 2:5-8

Jesus gave up his rights so that we can have all the rights of natural born children of God, regardless of bloodline, colour, creed, or country.  Jesus let go of his rights, so that others might gain a citizenship that will endure and exceed our petty political patriotisms. 

For to us a child is born,

       to us a son is given,

       and the government will be on his shoulders.

       And he will be called

       Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Of the increase of his government and peace

       there will be no end.

       He will reign on David's throne

       and over his kingdom,

       establishing and upholding it

       with justice and righteousness

       from that time on and forever.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Jesus is the king of a better kingdom, born abroad.  Like babies born abroad, we have never been to our home country.  But this citizenship can fill our lives with dignity and destiny. 

We western Christians can be big on our rights. We do well to review our duties, as well, like the duty to love; the duty not to be a butthead in Jesus’ name, the duty to examine ourselves rigorously and regularly, the duty to repent, and the duty to consider the counter-intuitive power of the Kingdom, where weakness is strength, whose king comes in a cradle and dies a criminal, whose death brings life beyond our knowing. 

Citizens and ambassadors we are, we who are Christ’s, with a share in His destiny. 

This Christmas Eve, there’s no better place to call home than away in a manger.