Christmas is a week away, and many say they’re dealing with a spirit of heaviness. Let’s face it, many are experiencing the death of a standard of living to which we’ve become accustomed. Loss is felt deeply during the holidays. COVID is cancelling get-togethers. Many have lost jobs. There’s family discord, drugs, drinking…. The lack of light (Seasonal Affect Disorder) is making some depressed. Many feel lonely and isolated. Some people talk of just pain having a vague “heaviness.” But let's not cancel the holiday, let's just refocus on what's been missing: Christ, our Hope. First of all, we’re told several times in the Bible not to fear. Our hope for an even better “new normal” is a life of drawing close to our Creator and Savior—and experiencing God. Jesus is not only life, but life abundantly. During this time of aloneness, turn off the noise and listen to the plea from the Holy Spirit to pick up the Bible, pray, and seek Him while we still can. Are we lonely? “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Have we been putting off God? “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;” (Isaiah 55:6). Have we allowed the pace and noise of the world to drown out the whisper of the Holy Spirit? “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). Let’s also do good for others. Do you know of someone who’ll be spending the holidays alone this year? Consider baking them cookies or sending them a card. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way—and makes us feel joyful doing it. But most of all, let’s invite Jesus in and spend time with the Guest of Honor.
How can you ease the heaviness in yourself and/or others by putting Jesus first in the upcoming holiday?
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ARE WE TOO BUSY TO COME?In Revelations 3:20, Jesus tells us, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” I’m over 60 years old, and I’ve never experienced such an outpouring of insight into God’s word than I have these past few years. God is “feeding” spiritual food to those who are willing to open the door of the cover of their Bible. If we spend time in praise and prayer with Him, and feast on His words, our Heavenly Father promises to personally teach us. And many young people are opening the door and feasting on His word like I’ve never seen before. God is giving insight, wisdom, and knowledge to those who are hungry and seeking Him right now. Are you indulging in this feast? Or do you have something “better” to do? In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus tells a parable about a man preparing a banquet. He invited his guests, prepared the feast, and when everything was ready, the man sent his servant to tell those he’d invited to come. But they suddenly started making excuses for why they couldn’t make it. The man got angry. Eventually he told his servant to go out into the streets and invite anyone who was willing to come. The parable concludes, “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet'" (NIV). Are we shrugging off God to watch TV, play video games, or gossip on Facebook? Do we risk God saying this about us: "I sent you an invitation to My Heavenly banquet, but when the feast was ready, you were too busy watching your favorite TV show. So I gave your seat to someone else. And now you won’t get to taste one morsel of what I prepared for you." The Bible says this about the Bible:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee” (Hosea 4:6). Doesn't that scare you? But the Bible also tells us that God wants to teach us. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Are you snubbing God and risking that He'll invite someone else to take your seat at His banquet? If lack of knowledge destroys us and the Holy Spirit is willing to teach us all things, what’s holding you back from opening the door of the cover of your Bible? Feel free to leave a comment or a prayer request. Don’t Neglect Reading the Bible There’s a story in John Chapter 4 where Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and asks her for a drink of water. There are many commentaries on this passage, but let’s focus on how Jesus pointed to Himself as a well of living water. Jesus says to the woman regarding the water from the well: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14 NIV). The woman responds: “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:15 NIV). So, do we, like the Samaritan woman, want this living water Jesus told her about that wells up to eternal life? Few Christian women I talk to read the Bible. Women’s groups at churches feature Bible studies that don’t involve a Bible. Pastors neglect to research the authors (or “test the spirits”) to ensure the doctrine is sound. Some of these authors make millions of dollars writing book after book, which suggests they keep their readers coming back to their well for more “knowledge.” Many older Christian women who should be teaching younger women according to the command in Titus 2 refuse to. Why? Is it because the older women are “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7 NIV)? Is the “water” these authors giving women worldly and temporary so that we remain thirsty? Do these “teachers” keep us dependent on going back to their well? Women, we’ve got ask to ourselves some serious questions. Are we seeing any Spiritual growth in ourselves? Are we developing the Fruits of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22? If we’re not seeing any growth of this kind, we’re not drinking from the correct well.
So, how do we find this Well of Living Water? We find this Well of Living Water by opening our Bible, asking the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and by asking Him to be our teacher. Jesus answered the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” ( John 4:10 NIV). Do you want Living Water that will produce good growth and fruit in you? Then ask and drink by reading from the Bible, which is the Living Word of God Himself. Christian fiction is not a substitute for the “real deal,” either. I read the Bible daily, and I urge you not to set aside the most important Book of all of which God, Himself, is the Author. What's diverting you from going to the Well of Living Water? |
Encouragement for young women during a tough season.
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