Traditions

In today's installment of this year's Advent Series Silent Night, we explored the sign given the shepherds.  The angel told the shepherds that a Savior was born in Bethlehem.  They were told to look for the baby Jesus in a manger, wrapped in cloths.  This is not were one would expect to find a king...or the Messiah.  But this is where the angel told the shepherds to look.  Not in the ordinary places one would expect to find a newborn baby--especially a King.

God specifically gave direction to the shepherds because they would be looking for a king to be born in a palace...or at least laying in a crib.  If Messiah was born, surely He would be in comfortable surroundings.  It would never cross their minds to look for the Messiah in a barn, laying in a manger.  God HAD to given them explicit direction.

We are no different today.  Our traditions have bound us to one way to do things.  There is only one way to sing in church.  There is only one way to present the truth of God.  There is only one way to worship God.

Maybe it is time we listen to what God is telling us; maybe we are so focused on the trail of tradition that we are missing the new path God is blazing.