What makes the Incarnation so significant? What makes it something to celebrate? Why do we recognize it each year on Christmas day? It’s not simply because Jesus came to earth; it’s because Jesus came to earth to eventually give himself for us. The incarnation would have meant nothing if Jesus grew up and lived a self-absorbed life. But He didn’t do that! The Incarnation was the beginning of Jesus’ mission to save the lost; Jesus was born to die; that’s why we celebrate Christmas!
As we follow in the steps of Jesus, then, we receive the call to incarnational ministry. This phrase has become somewhat of a Christian slogan, so let me define what I mean: to be on mission in the place where God calls us to live our lives.
Here’s the thing: most of us already know the place where God calls us to live our lives! He calls us to live with our families. He calls us to live in our workplace. He calls us to live in our neighborhood, and our city, and our county. And in addition, as a church body, He calls us to live in the Friendship Road Community of Oxford, Alabama. We don’t need to ask, “Where should I do incarnational ministry?”
We need to ask, instead, “How can I be on mission, right here, right now, where God has called me to live my life?” We follow in the steps of our Savior whenever we give ourselves over to God’s mission in the place where He has called us to live. Here are a few ways that we can do incarnational ministry:
- Family: Intentionally plan time for family worship. This looks different for every family! Get creative, find something that can be helpful for you to grow in knowing God, and then do it.
- Workplace: Do something with a coworker outside of the work place. Form a friendship with them that extends beyond the sphere of your 9-5 lives.
- Community: Organize a group to do volunteer yard-work. Coach a little-league sports team. Visit children in the hospital with coloring books. Plug yourself into the community God has placed you in and pursue God’s mission in the lives He allows you to influence.
Let’s think on and worship God for the incarnation this Christmas, and then let’s live lives in 2014 that continue the mission of God as we live among those He has placed us with.
Thank you for this great reminder, Philip, to ask God to use use right where He has planted us today; to bring people and opportunities of His choosing into our paths, and to be ready to respond as His loving hands and heart!