A small farmer was asked by his wife if he would be going to church with them for the Christmas service.  As usual he said he had some farm chores that needed to be done.  The wife bundles up the children and off they drove to church.  The farmer sits in his chair by the fireplace and picks up a book.  He just starts when he hears a lot of thumping in the yard.  It was very cold and snowing outside so he gets his hat and coat and proceeds to see what is causing the disturbance.   Surprisingly, a flock of geese had landed in his yard and they were in serious trouble.  They were flapping their wings but could not fly.  It was so cold and the farmer believed that he had to get them into the barn if they were going to be saved.  He opened the barn door but they wouldn’t budge, they just kept flapping.  He went to the house and got some bread.  He started placing the bread in front of them and it led to the barn door.  They still refused to move.  He got a broom and tried chasing them into safety but they wouldn’t budge.  He finally gave up believing they did not want to be saved.  Then he thought: “I guess the only way I can save them is to become one of them and lead then into the barn for their survival.”  It then hit him; he probably should have gone to church.  

He goes into the house sits down and starts reading his book.  It begins centuries ago and tells of a small kingdom.  The king and his men left to attack another kingdom to obtain food, materials and slaves.  They are gone for about a month.  They came back with wagon loads of food and equipment plus a number of women and children ten years of age and younger.  All of the men and older male children were killed.  The only one they lost was their king who was killed. 

The next in line, for being king, was the king’s 17 year old son.  He called his father’s council together and asked for advice as to what to do with the loot that had been obtained.  They gave him advice and he followed it.  Anytime a serious problem had to be solved he gathered the council together to get their recommendations. 

In front of his castle he could stand on a balcony and look to his left and see a large orchard that supplied all of his fruit.  To the right were huge gardens that supplied the king and his staff with vegetables.  Far in the distance were farms that supplied all his meat and horses for his warriors.  There were small homes surrounding the countryside.  

Behind the castle was a balcony that overlooked a street that had peddlers.  People would come and buy their food, clothes and others items.  He could see and hear some of the people and their conversations.  There was one young lady that was very attractive and caught his eye.  She was helping her family by selling bread.  Day after day he watched and listened to her and became very infatuated.   As weeks went by, he felt himself falling in love with her.  He called his council together and asked them how he should go about making her his queen?  They told him that he was the ultimate ruler and anything he wanted all he had to do was ask and it would happen.  One advisor told him she then would be his slave for life.  He didn’t want a slave.  He wanted someone that would love him in return.  They then suggested that he bring her into the castle and give her every gift she could ever want.  What young lady wouldn’t be thrilled with that?  The one advisor said she may be happy but you will never know if she really loves you. 

It was then suggested that he take off his crown, lay down his scepter and take off his robe.  Dress as a commoner and ride your horse to where she is.  She will think you are just one of them.  So this is what he did.   After days together they fell in love and she agreed to marry him. 

Philippians 2:5 – 11 – “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

To lead us to safety and save our spiritual lives God’s plan was to become one of us.  All others methods had failed.  His people were given everything they needed and were extremely prosperous.  It did not work.  He tried using the broom to shoo them into safety by punishment but they would not be driven.  No matter what God did they were disobedient and rejected Him.  He then came to earth as a baby in order to become one of them.  He explained Who He was and provided information in order for us to know Him and to develop a relationship with Him.  He wanted people He could love and who would love Him in return.  He promised that if people would accept Him as their Lord and Savior He would change their hearts and place His Spirit within them.  Some accepted Him as the young lady accepted the king and gave their love and lived for Him.  God’s promise was that they would be protected by Him throughout eternity. The plan worked for many and some day they will live with Him in a new world with a new heaven.  They will live with a greater love, fellowship and prosperity than the queen would ever have had.     

It’s still time to accept Him if you haven’t!  (The above material was from a sermon by Todd Clark—12/17-18/2011.)