So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. Heb 13:12-13

As we approach Christmas we are reminded of the beautiful scene of angels, shepherds, wise men and innkeepers. All are an important and a major part of the nativity story. However the part of the story which is the most important, the glue as it were, that holds it all together is often ignored. Our materialistic world, don’t want to see a baby in a manger who grew up to...die. It doesn’t fit in with this politically correct world. Now the true story of Christmas is at best watered down but mainly ignored. If we leave Jesus the Saviour out of Christmas what is there left. The rescue plan of God meant that Jesus had to die on a cross outside the city walls. He was made a public spectacle of, for the world to sneer at and deride. He was cursed on a cross, and knew the rejection of man and the awesome hatred of those he created. Because he suffered and died and conquered sin, we live, we have a life both now and in eternity. If Christmas is all about a Saviour who has come into the world and redeemed it through the shedding of his blood what is a Christian in relation to this world?
It is about being one who is connected with Christ at every level. Not just the pleasant parts, but the tough ones also. The world hates Christ it will also hate you. If we are truly living for him, the world will disown us and despise what we do. They will take the bits of our Christianity that they like and reject the rest. In the UK the sad truth is that this is often the same for the believer. We will do what benefits us, but when it means getting our hands dirty, or sticking our necks out, we give in. The writer to the Hebrews, exhorts us to “go out to him, outside the camp” It means leaving this world and what it stands for, what it believers, what it cares about, what makes it tick and get out and represent him...Christ. Carrying the cross of Christ and being associated with him, even if it means the kind of rejection our Lord had. It is easy to serve the Lord in the church, it is easy in our Christian families, but on the other side, outside the protection of the camp, is where our faith is made real. If Jesus had stayed in the camp, we would never have known salvation, the message is the same today, if we stay in our cosy camp those outside will never know salvation.

Labels: Christian, Follow, Salvation