Rolling Stones Gather No Moss

You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
But if you try sometime,
You just might find,
You get what you need. (The Rolling Stones)

Have you seen the tv commercial that uses this golden oldie? It features a montage of the kinds of gifts that take your breath away, for the wrong reasons. And then "you get what you need"--Coca-Cola.

When I first saw it, my initial reaction was - you can't always get what you want as far as Christmas gifts go, but you get what you need--Jesus. (Okay Luther scholars, I know the "if you try sometime" part doesn't exactly match up with our theology--but hey, it's almost Christmas, so please cut me some slack!)

But what do we need Jesus for anyway/ To save us, you say. To save us from what, I counter. From our sin, you retort! Exactly what sin do you have, I inquire of you--some may have sin enough to warrant saving, but the most of you are decent enough folk. What sin do we have that Jesus needed to be sent from the Father to rescue us?

I was listening to a radio preacher this morning and he was exploring this. Where he came down on it was the sins of environmental destruction, hunger and disease in the face of abundance--these were the sort of things we need from which we need redemption. I thought that was dead on.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to hear the rest of his sermon. But you know--you can't always get what you want!

One day left in Advent. Spend it thinking about the child of Bethlehem as your savior. Mind boggling.

Lord God, you sent your son to save us from our sin. Help us to recognize them, and be freed from them to work your will here on earth. In Jesus name. Amen