One thing that really rang in my ears during our Christmas Eve service was the angel’s description of Christ to Joseph and Mary.

Actually, before I get to that point, let me rewind to the preface of these events. Picture this, the angel Gabriel - a warrior, and imposing figure (this is noted by the fact that his greeting are always begun with “Do not be afraid” or as the message puts it “foo, don’t wet your pants) shows up on the scene. He knows Christ [though no one else yet does]. He has served under King Jesus, so anything he says about Christ is a bit of a understatement given to a people who really have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. Needless to say he is not only the messenger of God, he also knows what he’s talking about first hand.

Luke 1: 32-33 [Gabriel speaking to Mary]

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Matthew 1: 20-21 [Gabriel speaking to Joseph]

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

And I know I’ve said this before, but this idea brought me back. I truly believe that how we view Christ effects how we’ll follow Him. Jesus was not meek and mild. He was and is the commander of an angelic army (remember the “Do not be afraid” guys - yeah he’s their leader). He is the Son of the Most High - the destined ruler of His People. He is also the savior King - sent to set the captives free.

Do I hear meek and mild? Hardly. So as we choose to call ourselves christians - followers of Christ, remember who it is we serve. Never forget we serve the King.

(sweet photo courtesy of youth Pastor Brian)

“Instead of teaching kids to allow Christ to live through them, we invite them to mimic Him. They rely on their own power, interpret their own behaviors as God-honoring and feel a sense of spiritual pride when they hit the mark.”

                                                                                              -Steve Gerali

Wow. Um. Yeah. Uh. Well.

What an amazingly succinct summary of our culture of youth ministry. NO WAIT! Not simply youth ministry… the CHURCH!

That statement sure hit my marrow. I’ve always been told that Christ is our standard, but that standard isn’t something we can comprehend, interpret or quantify. It’s only by living in and through Him do we begin to understand who He is (and that there is so much we don’t know).

As I walk more with Him, I begin to realize - it’s less of being like Him and more of me submitting myself to Him. That is the process of becoming more Christ-like. 

I’ll leave you with the words of Aaron Shust, who summarizes this thought much more eloquently that I could ever do. 

“You are my strength. You are my God. You are my King. You make me laugh. You make me dance. You make me sing. All of my plans, all of my dreams, I lay them down before your feet. All of my time, all that is mine, I submit to your design. Because you are the one, the only one, who would give it all away for me.”