Following Jesus is an adventure. At times the adventures are difficult, at
times exciting, and at times it feels like He just spoils us with His
goodness. Jesus provided an amazing
opportunity to meet up with my cousins (who serve in Uganda)
for two weeks in South
Africa.
I had not seen them in over two years and had not even met my one year old twin
cousins. It was my
first time in Africa, a place that holds a
very special place in the hearts of many that I love. What a joy to be there, to be with my cousins
and their sweet girls and to glory in the beauty of God’s creation.
 |
| Picnic in Hermanus |
 |
| Chloe |
 |
| Sophie |
 |
| Picnic with Elsie and Lucy |
Words fail in attempting to describe the beauty of His creation. What a creative God we serve. The beauty that He created for us to enjoy even
on this fallen earth seems to point ever so clearly to Him. It leaves me trying to imagine the beauty of
a world free from sin and the fall.
As I stood at the
southernmost tip of Africa less than two weeks
before Christmas, I was struck at the vastness of the world and of the amazing
expression of God's love for it. I started my day at the tip of Africa and then
flew across the entire continent of Africa. Our pilot treated us to an amazing view of Cape Town as we ascended. Several hours later I felt the Lord
prompt me to look out my window and I realized that I was looking at the
northern border of the continent of Africa. What a view and what a privilege to get to
pray over this continent. As I prayed
over Africa and looked down on places that are
in desperate need of the Gospel I couldn’t help but thank Jesus for entering
into our world. Unlike me, who was
merely looking from above, Jesus came down to us, He entered our mess, got
dirty and walked with and among us! And
by doing so, by coming to us and entering into and taking on our sin, He saved
us! What a Savior!
 |
He didn’t come to save His people from Rome, He didn’t come to save us from our
circumstances. He didn’t even come to save us from our pain. He came to save us from our sins. He came to save and deliver us from the sin
that resides in each one of our hearts. He came to redeem and restore. All we have to do is say Yes to Him. Say Yes to the One who emptied Himself and
entered into our mess so that we could know Him, know salvation and know true Life
and Love.
I can think of only one response to a God like that – total
and complete devotion and surrender. This
is a God I want to serve, love and obey whole heartedly. This is a God worthy of my worship.
This Christmas may we all be reminded of the Savior. The
Savior who came to us as a baby, who loved us enough to enter into our messy
world and offer redemption, and who continues to come to us each and every day.
Merry Christmas!
