The Robot on the Shelf

 24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be bornd will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) 

THOUGHTS: There are those who say there is nothing but this life- there is no spirit, there is no soul- we are just atoms.  Therefore, though we are complicated, we are just material.  The question should be asked then, why should one atom be kind to the next?  Is there some force out there that indicates kindness is a better way for atoms to live?  I think the answer is that there is no ultimate reason for love without a God of love.  If you have no God, the reason for kindness, love, and grace are a house of cards with no foundation or basis.  in our time, the question could be raised, why should humans be favored over robots/AI.  Machines are made to serve humans (like a kind of angel), but if one atom has the same value as the next- and there is no soul- then why should humans not serve a higher intelligence once AI passes human ability (like the grand chess master, Kasparov, was defeated by IBM's deep blue May 1997 or the Go Game champion in 2017).  
     We feed materialism with selfishness and greed.  When Christmas loses meaning to only giving presents it becomes empty and death's sadness (the empty spot at the table) overwhelms the good news of Christ's coming to give life.  But generosity mirrors what God did in giving Himself at Christmas. 
     Without the human soul- and therefore without a God who makes it, there is no ultimate reason to love or have purpose.  This is not just a primitive archaic idea- it is an idea that we really know deep down today.  We are worthwhile- made in God's image.  Christ came in the Spirit to free our spirits.  He came out of love to show us love is the best way- loving God and neighbor.  

PRAYER: Lord, may my spirit be inspired and linked to your Spirit.  Help me to love my neighbor because you have taught it in word and example by coming down for me.