Drink

The sermon was nearly half finished. A loud thump at the back of the room caught my attention. Someone called out for a doctor. My nursing instinct took over and surge of adrenaline sent me to the back of the church. A young, pregnant woman was on the floor, surrounded by medical professionals of all specialties. The most obvious initial response was to treat for low blood sugar. Another member and I went in search of a sugary drink--juice, coke, anything to increase her glucose. After searching various rooms and asking numerous people (and after what seemed an eternity) we finally secured some juice. The sweet liquid was truly life-giving. The unconscious woman awoke almost instantly.

I crept back to my seat. As the service concluded, the pastor made his way to the table before him. White napkins cloaked the ‘body’ and ‘blood’ of our Savior. As ‘the cup’ made it’s way down my row, I could hardly help but chuckle to myself. It was right there, the whole time. The life-giving-giving substance we’d been searching for--the fruit of the vine. There it was--right in front of us! On our Lord’s table.

I wondered to myself, how often do I find myself in desperate and searching. What non-satisfying places do I turn to? When all along, what I needed was directly in front of my face--Jesus.

Christ’s blood purchased us life. We need only allow the cup--His blood--to do it’s miraculous, redeeming work. “And [Christ] took a cup...and gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28

How easily we forget that the Power in the Blood doesn't stop with salvation! Following redemption, His blood continues its daily, sanctifying work in our life. In Jesus' blood we find hope, peace, joy, and strength to meet any trial, struggle, burden, or sorrow. “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:52-56

Look no further--the table is spread before you. Come to Jesus. Drink and be saved. Drink deeply and abide in Him.

Resolutions

The time of year has come upon us to make resolutions that we aim to keep all year long. The year of 2012 has just arrived and people are busy starting things up again, but at the same time reflecting on the past year and anticipating what the next will bring. As I have been doing just that, I have come up with my own New Year's Resolution.

This year, I'm going to stop.

As humans, we always desire to give back in return for anything given to us. We're extremely bad at accepting gifts without being able to give in return. That is exactly why we have a hard time accepting God's gracious salvation as a gift-- something that does not have a price that we must pay.

Romans 3:21 "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"

Scripture clearly states that Christ finished everything in the work of redemption on the Cross. However, our human nature tells us we have to contribute to this gift in order for it to truly be our's. We try to be "good" and do our best...to try harder and push forward. We try to be a better Christian, a better witness, a better all around person. We try and try and try! But do we ever get anywhere?

The law is exhaustive. It demands perfection in every aspect of one's life--thought, word, and deed. Without God, we live under the law. We are expected to adhere to every rule and regulation in the Word of God, we are to be holy (set apart, different) as God is holy. But we cannot. It is absolutely impossible to fulfill even one aspect of the law in our own strength, and even if you could manage to keep the law in all areas except one, it will have still been broken. "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."-- James 2:10.

BUT! The most glorious word in the world. BUT. It signifies that there is more, that the last statement is not the end result. BUT. God has poured out His grace upon us, lavished us in His love, and bought us with the price of His very own blood. BUT! The story isn't finished. He has given us such a glorious, gracious FREE gift that is our very own. We do not have to work to deserve it or even work to keep it. The gift of salvation is our very own. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and King, we are emerged in His love.

So this year, I'm going to stop. I'm going to stop trying to achieve my salvation. I'm going to "cease striving, and know that [He is] God."--Psalm 46:10.

Keeping Christmas Like Scrooge

I'll be honest: I've never been a big fan of New Years. Maybe it's because January 1 seemed to symbolize that the Christmas season is completely over. Maybe it's because January 1 meant the return to school was only days away. Maybe it's because January 1 appears to be the end of all our Christmas festivities and excitement. And for someone who loves Christmas, it's sad to see it all come to an end.

The other day, I was listening to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I was struck by what was written about Scrooge after his visits from the three ghosts. Dickens writes that Scrooge began to "keep Christmas" better than anyone. Instead of living in contempt of Christmas, Scrooge brought Christmas into everyday life throughout the year. Scrooge was no longer blind to the needs of those around him nor hard to their plight and thence a hoarder of his money; he became a man who generously gave to those in need. He was no longer the grumpy, terrifying old man but became a man filled with joy who was loved by all.

I was greatly challenged by old Ebeneezer's actions. What does it look like in my life to "keep Christmas" throughout the year? It probably doesn't mean that our tree and other decor needs to stay up all year long; and it probably doesn't mean that I have to go Christmas shopping every month. But what about bringing joy to those around me through other means? Maybe it's by baking cookies for a neighbor or inviting others into our home for a meal, games and fellowship. Maybe it's by asking the Lord to soften my heart towards the needy around me and giving generously to them, no matter the cost to myself. Maybe it's intentionally spending more time in His Word, focused on a specific passage like we so often do with the Christmas accounts. Maybe it is simply taking time to sit back and ponder the incredible, miraculous reality of God's love towards us.

As we consider how to "keep Christmas", I think Paul has some good, practical ways that we can bring that Christmas spirit into every month of the year:

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly." - Romans 12:9-16

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:9-10

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions. But this year, my goal is to "keep Christmas" better than anyone, just like Scrooge. By living out those passages of Scripture (and many, many more), I hope to bring the joy of Christmas to those around me every day of the year. Because really, the joy of Christmas is Jesus Himself, and He cannot be contained in a single month. Although I'm not quite sure how it will look, I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for my keeping Christmas throughout 2012.

So. This is Christmas. What have you done? And what will you do?