“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
(John 1:12 ESV)
Often times TV adverts promote products for people in positions of influence and revolve about the power to be lauded, to selfishly say by implication or directly: “I am worth it”.
Sadly I fear Democracy has reached its nadir, we live in the times of post modernity where all truth is relative, apparently; so many untruths, half-truths are being propounded as Truth. I believe it is not necessary to give examples because they are self-evident.
Post the trauma of WW2, humanity’s hubris was curtailed for a time. There was a genuine desire to rebuild and transcend the preceding norms that had pervaded the early 20th Century. Now some 80 plus years later most of those good intentions and universal hopes and fears mostly lie in tatters.
I was one born and raised in this time of a vision of justice, forgiveness, honour, moral rectitude and transparency. Over time this seems to have dissipated into financial or political expediency.
Truth and righteousness has fallen on so many deaf ears. 2000 years ago it was much the same, people are suffering, the only difference between now and then is that it took weeks or months for news to travel across the then known world instead of just with the click of a button.
It was for such as times like this that Jesus, The Son of God, came to reside on earth, born as the Son of Man, into a broken, suffering, fearful and hard-pressed society. Jesus came to demand a revival of righteousness, to shine His Light on hope, love, truth, compassion and self-giving inaugurated in a humble birth.
No matter whom you are Jesus shows His Love for us, whether great or insignificant in the world’s view, Jesus died to bring to us the chance for freedom and hope. In His ascension He has poured out the Holy Spirit to make a life-changing difference for all those who choose to become His disciples, both in this world now and latterly the one to come.
Jesus shows us the Way to know the real absolute Truth. Taking Jesus as our Saviour is the only way for us to find acceptance and a genuine peace in an eternal life that matters. As Christians we become His children and He cares for us. He exemplifies what it means to stand up for His absolute values of doing the right thing no matter what the cost. He will be with us as we try and will provide a way through.
In contrast to “I am worth it”, Jesus says: You are worth it – always.
Prayer: LORD, we are humbled and also amazed that you found us where we are and yet again we ask for Your Presence with us through the day to bring Your Light into dark times, in Jesus’ name amen.
Roderick Marshall