Advent-ure December 20: Chicken Feathers

The Christmas season reminds us that Jesus came to earth and took upon Himself upon flesh - we cherish the picture of baby Jesus in the manger, and we think about what He did for us in bringing salvation through His death on a cross and resurrection from the dead.  We also recognize that Jesus
is our example, as 1st Peter 2 teaches:
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously...

We can walk with the attitudes and actions that are consistent with our Savior, the One who has given us a new heart and will lead us by His Spirit.  As followers of Christ, we can make sure that we are being good examples of His presence in us, allowing Him to use us for His glory.  We have unique characteristics - He has wired us a certain way; there is only one of us, fearfully and wonderfully made, and appointed and anointed for service in His name.

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Our journey through various Christmas traditions around the world has taken us to 19 different countries so far, and today, we visit the island nation of Indonesia.  There is a practice on the island of Bali, according to the AsiaExchange.org website, in which Christmas trees are made of chicken feathers. These are exported around the world. Plus, fireworks and bamboo cannons are part of Indonesian celebrations.

The corresponding Scripture today is from Philippians chapter 4, which, in considering the celebrations that occur in Indonesia, as well as around the world, we can make sure we have a spirit
of celebration, of rejoicing, in what God has done:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NFL players who profess to be Christians have been celebrating God's work in their lives and giving back to people in need by their participation in the league's "My Cause My Cleats" emphasis, which occurred in Week 14, which was the first full week of December.  Players highlighted their respective causes by the design of their shoes.

Sports Spectrum reported on some of these players who participated.  First up, the one and only Benjamin Watson, who is currently with the Patriots.  The article states that Watson...

...highlighted his One More Foundation, which seeks to spread the love and hope of Christ to “One More” soul by meeting real needs, promoting education and providing enrichment opportunities through charitable initiatives and partnerships.

Then there's D.K. Metcalf of the Seahawks, who "wore pink and green cleats to honor Prison Fellowship, whose mission is to restore those affected by crime and incarceration, and whose vision is to see all affected by crime reconciled to God, their families and their communities."

From the Colts, Marcus Johnson called attention to "Young Life, whose mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith." The article notes that, "In those cleats, Johnson enjoyed the first 100-yard receiving game of his young NFL career."

Not surprisingly, according to the article:

And numerous players showed their love for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a sports ministry that aims to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes — including Bills quarterback Matt Barkley, Broncos linebacker Malik Reed, Redskins quarterback Case Keenum, Jaguars safety Cody Davis, and Raiders fullback Alec Ingold.

We can consider some principles together today.  First of all, we can think about how the way that we walk represents Christ.  And, to stick with the "cleats" theme, we can ask, "Am I following in His shoes?  We are told to follow in Christ's steps in 1st Peter 2, and Romans 10 talks about those beautiful feet that carry the good news of the gospel, prepared, as Ephesians 6 describes, with the gospel of peace.

We can also take time to reflect on how God is working through His people and ministries devoted to lifting up His name...and rejoice!  Sometimes, the ministry occurs through the regular ebb and flow of life; other times, it may be unique, kind of "out of the box," maybe like "chicken feathers" Christmas trees - but God can take what is unique and use it to export His truth.  And, when it comes right down to it, we each are uniquely gifted to share His love.