Don’t know about you, but I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off to get all of my holiday shopping and chores done so I can start to actually ENJOY the season! What a mess!
Sounds like I’m missing the point! Sure, I want to get my errands finished, but I should be living in the shelter of God’s grace NOW – not just waiting to do it later.
This conundrum of anticipation and dissatisfaction reminds me of what my minister spoke of on Sunday about people wanting to keep the ‘holiday spirit’ all year long. He said we all yearn for more, but rarely understand what the MORE is!
I think my MORE is living in Jesus Christ TODAY!
What more is NOT includes:
- More money
- More things
- More stuff
God’s grace through Jesus Christ provides the more I’m always looking for. Funny how it sounds so SIMPLE!
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 21:1-2
Life is hectic. Life is hard. And life just stinks sometimes. But God is our stronghold and a rock in which we can always stand on!
In fact, Max Lucado writes, “We dare to stake our hope on the gladdest news of all: if God permits the challenge, he will provide the grace to meet it. We never exhaust his supply. ‘Stop asking so much! My grace reservoir is running dry.’ Heaven knows no such words. God has enough grace to solve every dilemma you face, wipe every tear that you cry, and answer every question you ask.”
Yes, we want more and seek more OFTEN. However, the MORE that will fill us today and for eternity is in a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32
The world tells us that money, stuff and people’s acceptance will make us better and who we want to be. Just. Not. True.
Try Jesus…he’s waiting to give you MORE of what really counts!
Some Wisdom for Today: Proverbs 21:25 – All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
There was an illustration that I came across recently that equated a Christian during his life on Earth with a Traveler in a foreign land. The traveler is not interested in accumulating things for his hotel room or renovating it to be more to his liking. He is not going to waste a bunch of time trying to rearrange the furniture to impress the maids or other people staying in the hotel. He is going to endeavor in the mission that has brought him to that land. Your treasure, your concerns, your time should be spent in trying to accomplish the mission so that you can go home. After all, this is not your home.
If we treat this life based upon it’s temporal nature, it will rearrange our priorities. If our priorities are simply on the comforts of this place, we have missed the greater mission. Matthew 6:19-21 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Especially during the Christmas season, all of us need to constantly try to refocus ourselves on Christ rather than the hoopla of the season. I have been bad about trying to make Christmas about the best gift or all of the activities and letting Christ be relegated to the nativity scene that we put together in the living room and the Sunday Service before the Holy Day. Sadly, I am not alone. I can’t fix last year, but this year and the future will be different. Gifts and Stuff have to be lower on the list and The Greatest Gift of All (Salvation) has to be at the top. We can’t top God’s Gifts.
Love the illustration, Jason!!! Thank you.