![O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14) [An Advent Card Talk]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55a9a1e3e4b069b20edab1b0/1483161046976-X5VJE3CMP9T957O72EII/3d-wallpapers-light-dark-wallpaper-35822.jpg)
All the things I do are justified by my faith in Jesus, including, but not limited to: cooking meth in an elementary school's art room; sacrificing my neighbor's pet labradoodle to Dagon on their front lawn; and farting on homeless people.
No?
The passage doesn't mean that God is required to "bind in heaven" (Mt 18:18) my every action because I prayed a prayer to the baby Jesus at summer camp?! The Holy Spirit indwelling deep, way down, deep, way down, deep down in my soul is not a license to do/smell/lick wherever enters my head or field of vision?
Should my understanding of the passage be based on a reversed reading, placing the emphasis on the "He who gives me strength" at the end, instead of the ever-presently selfish "I" at the beginning? But then the passage becomes about God's will instead of my own will, especially when the question is asked, "what are the things God would strengthen me to do?"
Maybe those things are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
Maybe those things are not based solely on our comfort. Maybe they exist best when we learn to be content, at peace, with whatever we have, whenever we have it, however it arrived (Philippians 4:10-12), even if, especially if, these things contain our personal distress (Philippians 4:14).
Maybe this verse isn't a blank check of blessing for every romantic relationship, church ministry, professional opportunity, or new situation I may think is a good idea. Crazy.
But what do we know: we made this game and you probably think we're going to hell anyway.
