COMFORT!

Somewhere during my peripatetic circumlocution in Europe. Berlin. The place has tons of coffeehouses and cafés; konditoreis and backereis galore dot the landscape. Lots of them mom-and-pop outfits. And the caffeine they furnish is outstanding, too. Yet, here I am sipping the good stuff at—of all places—Dunkin’ Donuts. Innumerable other institutions I could patronize, but I pick Dunkin’ Donuts. First store (still standing) opened in 1950 on 543 Southern Artery, Quincy, in ye olde state of MA. Dunkin’ Donuts—the quintessential American store (with a lot of franchises abroad, as well). And I chose that brand … in Berlin. Shame on me!

I like to stay within my comfort zone! And that cold spring morning, comfort meant Dunkin’ Donuts. Berlin or Boston, I couldn’t care less. As long as it was Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Nice feeling. Familiar décor. Recognizable styrofoam. Accustomed taste. Dunkin’ Donuts! Nope, I’m not the adventurous type! Gimme my comfort zone.

He was God, but he became a human embryo, a foetus, a neonate, a toddler, a child, an adolescent, and an adult. God became man and suffered hunger (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), and tiredness (John 4:6). Incredible! Deity in a distinctly “uncomfortable” zone. Jesus Christ …

… who, although He existed
in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself,
taking the form
of a bond-servant,
and being made
in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:6–7

Emmanuel—God with us!

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Charles Wesley, 1739

And all for our sake.

For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sake
He became poor,
so that you through His poverty
might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

For our sake. To die for our sins. To save us.

He Himself bore our sins
in His body on the cross,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness;
for by His wounds
you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24

And canceling out the effects of sin for the believer, He brought us to God.

For Christ also died
for sins once for all,
the just for the unjust, so that
He might bring us to God ….
1 Peter 3:18

Deity took on humanity for me, to save me.

Being found in appearance
as a man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

The sinless One made sin. Out of His “comfort” zone. For us.

He made Him
who knew no sin
to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become
the righteousness of God
in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

Absolute, perfect holiness of Deity, dwelling amongst the total depravity of humanity. And suffering and dying as man.

Surely our griefs
He Himself bore,
and our sorrows He carried;
yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through
for our transgressions,
He was crushed
for our iniquities;
the chastening
for our well-being
fell upon Him,
and by His scourging
we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4–5

And here I am ensconced in my little comfort zone imbibing Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5

Let’s step out of our comfort zones and live boldly for Christ. In the power of His strength, through His Spirit, let’s boldly live lives of holiness, humility, witness, and sacrifice. Even if it makes us “uncomfortable.”