And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.

Micah 5:2-5

Lombard Street in San Francisco is known as the most crooked street in the world. However, I would suggest that the road Jesus must travel to get into any of our lives is more crooked than Lombard Street. In my life the main obstacles Jesus must navigate are my three Cs: comfort, control, and consumption. Whenever following Jesus interrupts my quest for perpetual comfort and control, I grab the reigns from him. And whenever Jesus mentions my need for moderation and self-discipline, I turn a deaf ear.

The prophet Micah warns that our crooked ways carry two consequences:

First, God abandons us to our crooked little lives.

The prophet's first word is a word of warning. But, much of what feels like God’s punishment is really God allowing us to get our own way. God instructs and strengthens us in the way that we are to go, and he warns us of the peril of choosing a different way. But, because love does not insist on its own way, God lets us go our own way.

Then, God sends the Messiah to save us.

God does not give up on us. It’s only after we’ve endured the chaos of a Godless life that we are finally ready to make straight the Messiah’s path. And when we do, Jesus makes a glorious and gracious entrance into our lives.

How kind of God to let us give up on him. How much kinder it is that when we give up on him, he never gives up on us. Make his way straight in your life.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

Is there a Lombard Street in your life? What name would you give to the obstacles in your life that make it difficult for Jesus to reach you?

PRAYER:

Faithful Savior, you are forever faithful and true. When fear bullies me into taking back from you control of my life, and when comforts become my idol, and consumption my way of life, let the crooked consequences of life deepen my hunger for you. Amen.

READ THE PASSAGE IN CONTEXT:

"But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days."

Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.

Micah 5:2-5