Greetings to you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a lovely December morning that the Lord has given us and I know by experience, that it is filled with surprises, blessings, divine appointments, and moments to fill with reflection. I trust that you have had a good week and are anticipating a weekend of wonders, signs, and miracles …both in personal moments and in the supportive environment of family worship. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to decisively move in your life in ways that you will understand and in ways that allow you to respond. Remember great miracles happen in the season of Advent and Christmas.
I have been enjoying the ‘re-discoveries’ that come this time of year…decorations, music, food, excitement, activity, and the movies. However, this year I am really grateful for a few new devotional books and articles that approach the season from different perspectives. They often deal with stories and insights that I had not considered or even heard of. It is necessary to see the familiar through a new eyes and impressions, I suppose that what is really interesting are the reflections that I hear from family and friends. Yes, there are stories and reminisces that are repeated but there are always the element of new. Perhaps time has a way of undoing the knots in the string that we wrap around our memories.
I was reminded of that as I read my morning devotional and spent time with some questions that were asked: What difference has Jesus made to us (you)? If Christians are, by definition, people in whom Christ lives, then how can we be living examples of the risen Christ alive within us? One of the Advent verses says: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you…. Isaiah 60:1 NIV. So, I am thinking that we, as Christians in 2019 are supposed to “Rise and Shine” ..
… We are supposed to be ‘different’ than the world around us, not because of what we don’t do but because of what we do do. We are supposed to be unselfish and ‘other-centered’. We are supposed to be humble, not full of ourselves. We are supposed to possess inward peace. We are supposed to have an inner-confidence and security. We are supposed to be less fearful and anxious. We are supposed to be forgiving and accepting and kind. We are supposed to be less worried. We are supposed to be ‘light’ in the darkness.
Today, we need to allow ourselves to be filled with the glory of the Lord and use it to try and change our world. Something to think about – have a blessed weekend!