I have a confession. I’m not excited for Christmas this year. There are so many stresses between extra activities, shopping, work, traveling, and life in general. I’m ready for it to all be over and to resume life as usual.
But this is a shame. What in the world am I thinking?! I’m making Christmas about me, my feelings, and my comfort. Quite frankly, this is lame. How could I be so egocentric? So what if I don’t get the perfect pair of socks for my lovely wife? Who cares if my father-in-law doesn’t jump up and down in excitement when he opens his personalized photo mug? What is Christmas really about?
I’m being challenged to rethink this season as God sees it. I’m not convinced that what I know and expect as Christmas really is what glorifies God most. Sure, I want to celebrate Christmas how I know how, but even more so I want to stop leaving God out of the celebration of Jesus’ birth and rescue of us.
Merry Christmas – it really is!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Duty or Desire?
Lately I have been challenged to look at the conflict between duty and desire in my life. What is Christianity really all about? Is it simply a set of rules to live life by? Is the good Christian the one who lives life dutifully never saying no to ministry related activities and always being there for everyone in their church including their family, friends, and acquaintances?
Living life simply out of duty is disastrous to who we are as Christians. Yet, this is how I find myself living my life. Quite honestly I’m tired of it. I’m worn out from trying to make sure I’m doing everything right. I’m worn out from caging my own desires deep within me so that I can do what I perceive to be the “right” thing. In doing that, I’ve caged a big part of who I am in my core.
Was it not Christ who said he came so that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10)? I don’t think my life sucks, but I am not convinced I’m living in that “abundant” part Jesus tells us he offers.
So I’m on a new mission. I’m on a mission to explore the life God has for me and to abandon the life I have projected onto myself which I once believe to be the “good Christian life.” I’m sick of being good! I simply want to be John and to be the full, abundant John that God intended from the beginning of time.
How about you? What is your desire?
Living life simply out of duty is disastrous to who we are as Christians. Yet, this is how I find myself living my life. Quite honestly I’m tired of it. I’m worn out from trying to make sure I’m doing everything right. I’m worn out from caging my own desires deep within me so that I can do what I perceive to be the “right” thing. In doing that, I’ve caged a big part of who I am in my core.
Was it not Christ who said he came so that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10)? I don’t think my life sucks, but I am not convinced I’m living in that “abundant” part Jesus tells us he offers.
So I’m on a new mission. I’m on a mission to explore the life God has for me and to abandon the life I have projected onto myself which I once believe to be the “good Christian life.” I’m sick of being good! I simply want to be John and to be the full, abundant John that God intended from the beginning of time.
How about you? What is your desire?
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