While praying in worship on Christmas Eve, one petition caught my attention. Each year, I pray on behalf of the congregation, that God use us to establish an authentic Christ-like presence in the world.
I do not know how those words affect the lives of those who are there to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus; but when I pray these words they call forth a response. I am reminded of Jesus saying: “Follow me!” I am moved to reclaim the vocation of a disciple.
As Christians seek to be true to the way of Jesus, the Christ-like presence becomes real and is extended. Through this language, voiced in our prayers, we are drawn to reconsider Jesus as the model of the godly life. Such words add credence to the question: “What would Jesus do?” A question that sends us back to the Gospels; back to the story of Jesus’ words and deeds.
Although we have two thousand years of Church history; although that history includes great councils which have produced creeds and proclamations; although individual denominations continue to have conventions and commissions who produce theological statements; the authentic Christ-like presence has only one source. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit who would bring to mind all that he said and did.
May each Christian continue to seek the guidance of the Spirit toward a life of discipleship. There is no doubt that our world is still in need of the Spirit of grace and mercy that only found in Jesus.
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