1 Challenge
Christmas, a time we cook for five hours, then eat it in ten minutes. Jesus’ birthdays doesn’t have to amount to more carbs and more spending. Could we possibly stir in a more praise-worthy tradition?
About twice a year my husband and I have a ‘how-are-we-doing’ chat. These are honest conversations assessing one another in our marriage. It’s a safe chat. No weapons with which to fight, nor to defend. No judging. No exaggerations. No excuses either.
Could we carve not only a turkey this Christmas, but also space for a date-night with Jesus (or date-morning) having a check-up chat assessing our faith? No weapons with which to fight, nor to defend. No judging. No exaggerations. No excuses either.
Today I just finished reading the two letters apostle Paul wrote to those in Corinth.
Two epistles packed with uplifting words, transparent concerns, but also overflowing with strong rebukes and challenges. I know it’s Christmas and we’re all scheduled for jolliness, but there’s one kind of sadness that doesn’t hurt us… it revives us back to that first love for Jesus.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV
Paul culminates his second letter with a call to have a check-up on their faith.
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT
6 Questions
Is my Bible reading rushed, shallow, just a pop-up verse on my phone? Is it consistent?
Is my prayer a meal- bed time- church event, or a life style?
Am I hoarding the Gospel all to myself? (Bold on social media, timid in person?… If that)
Am I a consumer and a producer in my church (wounded, or not by church people)?
Am I wrestling for my right to experience JOY in spite of hard circumstances?
What are some RISKS and REGRETS I might have if I don’t make some changes today?
1 Response
Covid season has sifted many preachers, has jarred many believers, has produced many seekers.
In Matthew 5:14-16 MSG it says “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand.”
As light-bearers, are we struggling flickering our light worse than a soviet kerosene lantern? We ought to be a visible “city on a hill”.
For the last few years, Jesus put our family ON A HILL we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves. I thought being on a hill is glorious. For us it was bumpy, painful, weary… yet so rewarding.
For the last 6 years… God allowed our family to be more visible, like being from a HILL TOP allowing us to share the Gospel, hand out Bibles and pray for beautiful people in Child Services, Adoption Office, Hospitals, ER rooms, Public School, Court House, Airplanes, Insurance Offices, Movie Settings … Let’s not waste our HILL TOPS, EVEN IF THEY SEEM LIKE VALLEYS.
Covid 19 exploded with opportunities to care and share. I made it my habit to not have a Bible-less backpack wherever I go, because people are so open and receiving.
But, if our fundamental spiritual habits (“habits of grace”) are iffy, so will our living and sharing be.
Over a week ago I replied to a friend checking on my husband’s health. After sharing with her that he needed a second procedure due to complications with his kidney stones, she wrote “I hoped he was feeling better. Stepping up our prayers for y’all.”
Don’t we all need to step up every aspect of our faith: our praying, our Bible reading, our living, our sharing, our reJOYcing. May this be our Christmas miracle. With Christ all things are possible.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV