12/9/2017 0 Comments What's your security blanket?I’ve been reading through Galatians, where Paul is desperate for the Church to accept the freedom found in Christ alone. But fear and habits often lure us back to old ways. My friend, Shawn, reminded me of the Charlie Brown Christmas episode. Have you ever noticed that as Linus tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about, reciting Luke 2:8-14, he drops his blanket in the middle when he utters the words, “fear not”? He drops his security blanket that never leaves his side. Jesus has the power to separate us from our fears and old habits that provide no lasting security and peace. Notice that Linus picks the blanket back up again before exiting the stage. Isn’t that like us to have so much clarity in the freedom of Jesus one moment and then revert back to our old security blankets the next. It’s what Peter does in Galatians 2:11-14 and it’s what I do all the time. Ugh. To quote Charlie Brown, “Good grief.” But notice that at the end of the show, Linus again releases the blanket. This time laying it at the foot of the Christmas tree as the cast joins in worship, singing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the Newborn King.” What’s your blanket? And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
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