My hope and prayer in writing these posts is NOT to provide a little devotional to read and check off the list. My desire is that you will be challenged to make a difference! I hope at times you are convicted, challenged and maybe even a little defensive. I say that not to condemn anyone, but to challenge those who are lukewarm to move to the side of on-fire for God! Maybe to move a few from being stuck to thriving in their faith, and in turn walking along side someone else, helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ. Or to encourage those on fire for God to share their lives with others as they walk closely with Him. Our Monday through Saturday lives must reflect Jesus as Lord to those around us as well as in our own hearts. We cannot just show up Sunday, put on a good show, and then live as though He doesn't exist as the sole reason we are here! After all, we represent Him to a lost and dying world!
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. That means every day of the week, in everything we do and in every conversation in which we engage...people see Jesus in and through us! The goal is never to glorify yourself or try to gain any favor with God...we have His favor! Remember, He died for you and me and loves us more than we can ever imagine! Our goal is to respond to His love by loving Him and loving others so that they will see beyond us and get a glimpse of a God Who loves them and wants to call them His child!
During this Christmas season as we celebrate our incredible Lord and Savior’s birth, let’s not forget to invite Him to every party, gathering and even the shopping adventures we embark upon. Many times a simple smile or brief conversation with that person at the checkout counter can make all the difference in the world for them to open up to Jesus during His birthday celebration season! Don’t be afraid the say Merry Christmas and be honored to call yourself His child!
As the year winds down and we have the honor of celebrating our Lord and Savior’s arrival as a baby, I will leave you with one of my favorite lines of the many Christmas movies I love to watch with my family...a little revelatory moment as quoted in The Grinch, “He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!
Merry Christmas and may Christmas this year mean a little bit more!
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