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Day 5 - Simplicity of the Backdoor

Luke 2:5-7 (NIV)
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.




The scripture tells us that God's entrance into the world was not through any of the trappings of royalty, or wealth, or status of household.  Rather he chose a "nobody" girl and her "nobody" fiance to birth His son.  Jesus came "in the backdoor".  
It should be significant/noteworthy...worthy of meditation, that God sought the most humblest of ways to enter into humanity and begin his redemptive work.


"Simple Gifts" was written by a Shaker community in the mid 1800's.  The lyrics of this one-verse song:


'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

Scripture often uses the idea of "turning" to represent acts of humility, and even of repentance.  It's that idea of "re-orienting" ourselves to get back to the proper place.  
I wonder if they saw in simplicity the ability to bow, bend, turn - and in turning to keep orienting their lives towards humility and service of others?  The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Philippians while in a Roman jail.



Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!




Advent can serve as "check" on our goals, ambitions, desires, motives - soul stuff - for the Christmas season.  There is something to be said for humble simplicity...there is something to be said for using the backdoor.

Comments

Paul said…
E, This idea of re-orientating is one of the reasons I read this blog. This time of year can be so busy filled with stuff that has no eternal value what-so-ever. This blog gives us all one more opportunity to "re-orient" our focus to Jesus.
December 5, 2011 at 10:19 AM
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