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In life, we encounter moments of despair, confusion, and limitation. It is during these times that we may feel lost, spiritually blind, and unable to move forward. Yet, it is essential to remember that it is in the in-between where Jesus shows up most powerfully. He bridges the gap between our struggles and ultimate transformation. Jesus is our in between.
Are you a fan or follower of Jesus? Fans like that He came down, spent some time and gave us some morally right tools to use to live this life. That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t match up to who Jesus truly is— the anointed One, the Savior of the world, the Overcomer, God incarnate. Now, if you’re a follower, you’ve given up all of who you are to step in the steps of Christ— His life loving others, His death to sin, and His resurrection of the body. As we celebrate Holy Communion this weekend, let us remember that Jesus, God incarnate came in human form so that He could suffer, die and rise again so that as disciples, as followers of Him, we too may recognize the cost and follow wholeheartedly.
No matter what kind of suffering you face, there is life-giving hope that springs forth from our merciful God. In his loyal love and faithfulness, God comes alongside us in our suffering in order to strengthen our faith, purify our lives, and heal our hearts by centering us on Christ and the good news of the gospel.
There was an urgency in Jesus’ statement, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” Why? Because He calls us out into the dark world to bring the light of His life, death, and resurrection so that all may know the salvation of the Lord through no other means than Jesus Christ. Let us have the same eagerness to sit down with the Ones in our lives that need to know the Lord’s suffering in order for them to have a relationship with God.
We come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. Through this service of communion and candlelight, we will hear prophecies spoken and prophecies fulfilled through this child who came to us in a manger. Joy to the World the Lord has come. Light has shown in the darkness of our lives.
As followers of Christ, we are to continue to walk and be focused on Him. When you look at the world, it is easy to become afraid or lose hope. But in Christ, we have hope now until the end when He returns. This hope comes to us as Emmanuel, God with us. It is this blessed hope that came in a cradle that we focus on through the cross that gives us the gift of eternal life.
As the hymn testifies, “To God be the glory great things He has done.” The greatest act of God besides creation is sending Jesus Christ to redeem the world from the slavery of sin and death. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God is to be glorified and worshipped. He is the only one who deserves our praise and adoration.
Did you know that the Holy Spirit is given to believers to transform them, remind them, encourage them, and provide the zeal and confidence to live out the Christian walk in a weary wondering world? It is He that convicts the world of sin so that all may know of the power of the resurrection through Jesus Christ. The Spirit is not a force, it is not a way of thinking, and it is not self-ambition. The Spirit is a gift of God through Jesus Christ left with us and in us to bring our light into a dark world.
As fellow Christians we’re not supposed to wait to see what happens, we are to be what does happen. The tomb is empty, we’ve been told the good news that Jesus is alive and yet, we’re walking away. Until we come in direct contact with Jesus and have a conversation with Him do we truly recognize who He is through the Word of God and ultimately we have communion with Him. But it doesn’t end there. We are to be lit on fire with a passion so great that His story continues in and through our lives.
As we step into this new year, we can either dwell on what things we’ve left undone, what things took us down, and what things just didn’t realize in our lives OR we can stand tall, persevere, and walk firmly in Christ into the new year. Moving forward in Christ means that we walk into our Divine purpose, which God determines for us both individually and corporately as a Church. As we move in Christ, guess what? God moves closer toward us, in us, and through us.
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