We started with, Why Then?, and we progressed to Why There? Then we moved to Why Her?, only to be followed by, Why Them?. Four poignant questions that bring us to the threshold of a soul-searching, and heart-moving question…
Why me?
Frankly, I can’t type those two words without feeling the delight and the weight of the question. Yes, why me? Why us?
If a response rapidly flows from our head, then we’ve missed the message and meaning entirely. If we’re prone to move quickly to an explanation of why God’s choice was prudent and wise, then we are precisely the wrong people. If we’re quick to talk about the good things we’ve done or the bad things we’ve avoided, then we seriously undervalue the vastness of God’s love and the depth of our own brokenness and sin.
What I bring to this exchange with God is absolutely nothing. In fact, the Apostle Paul puts it this way…
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…
Dead. Lifeless. Hopeless. But then…
…God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
God wasn’t checking your resume, your grade card, your family of origin, your net worth, the number of followers you have on Instagram, or the good things you’ve done.
And He also wasn’t surveying your rap sheet, your catalog of sin, or the lies you’ve worked to keep hidden from everyone who knows you.
There isn’t anything that qualifies you for His love, and there isn’t anything that disqualifies you.
God loves you. God picks you. God empowers you…
And what does He choose us for? To follow Jesus. To follow His Son. To follow Christ.
This is the gift we give to the giver of life. This is the gift we give to the one who breathed life back into our lifeless souls.
Why me quickly becomes, why not me?
Emboldened by Jesus’ example of love, I reach out. In compassion. With generosity. For justice and freedom. With courage.
Because God chose me, I can live as a light. Because God chose us, we can show a watching world what unity looks like.
Because God delights in calling me His own, I can become an ambassador of hope to a hopeless world.
Why me?
Only God knows.
Yes, five “why” questions. And now, one more question. A life-altering question. A transcendent question that presses into each of our souls this Christmas. A question with an answer that has the potential to delight the heart of God.
Indeed… this Christmas… Who is Jesus to you?
And now, to be continued… in you and through you.
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