Jesus Be the Center
Jesus Be the Center
What shall we cook for Thanksgiving? Should we go ahead and put up the Christmas tree or wait until next weekend? Should we hit the sales Thanksgiving night or wait until Friday morning? What are we going to do with the kids during their break from school? How are we going to make the rounds and make sure we see all our relatives? Should we go to my family’s dinner or the in-laws? What has happened to all our money? How am I supposed to Christmas shop? Oh, my head hurts and my neck is so stiff! What is wrong with me?
Can anybody relate? Anybody? It is here! The time of year that we experience the most stress. Our To Do list is out of control and we are fixated on it. We are making our lists and checking them twice to make sure we get everything we are supposed to do – done! Oh, it is all so overwhelming! Don’t you find it ironic that this season our thoughts are on anything except the true meaning of the holidays? Ironic? Or is Satan cunning and wielding his tool of distraction?
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
Sometimes when I am reading the Bible I can hear sarcasm. ;-) I can just hear Paul saying, “Duh! If you are a Christian and know Jesus, then you should be seeking Him and focusing on the things that matter! Who cares which side dish you cook or what date you put up the tree? God sent His only son to die for you. Now that matters! Thanksgiving should be about your gratitude for what God has done and Christmas should be about celebrating the Messiah! Jesus – the hope of the world – came so that you could have eternal life. Fixate on that!” (giggle)
Today I am convicted that my gratitude for what has been sacrificed for me is insufficient. I am burdened that I care too much about the things of this world and not enough about that which is eternal. I am saddened that I allow stress to foreshadow the joy that should flood my soul for the birth of my Savior! Let’s talk about the scripture above.
The book of Colossians is a book of instruction for the believer. Paul was writing to the Colossian church who was focusing on things other than Jesus. He patiently guided them to the proper path with correct teaching. He reminded them who Jesus was, what He had done and what we have received if we have received Him. Let’s look at Chapter 2, verses 6-10…
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
Don’t you love God’s word? What a great few verses to meditate on Thanksgiving week. May we abound in thanksgiving! May we hear and receive the richness of God’s word! I think Paul is a bottom line kind of guy. He just tells it like it is. And in verse 3 above it says “when Christ who is our life appears”. Can we all pause and ask ourselves – do we live as if Christ is our life?
Before we go one more day into the holiday season, let’s get re-centered. Our life should be about Jesus. He is our life – so let’s start living like it. Today, let’s commit that this holiday season, this day and every single day forward Jesus will be our life – we will seek Him first - Jesus will be the center of it all!
Message from Pam:
I am praying for you - yes, you! I am praying that you will center your life on Jesus. He is our life - our everything! He is all we have ever wanted and everything we will ever need. I am praying that God will strengthen you and that you may stay rooted and established in Jesus! Love you!
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