Christmas: Monday, January 2, 2007

I hope everyone had a happy and healthy Christmas Day and New Year's Day. We are back from our mission trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and everything should be back to normal as far as blogging.

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 12:1-7

This passage has one of the more amazing phrases in all of scripture. The Lord tells Abram to go to the land that He will show him. He didn't say, go to Israel. He didn't say go to Jackson. He didn't even say go to Bogue Chitto, MS. He said go to where I will show you.

And, he did. That is faith. Faith is leaping when God says leap, even when you don't know where you will land. Faith is jumping when God says jump, even if you aren't sure why. Faith is trusting that God will be true to His word and true to His promises. Faith gives life. Faith gives hope. Faith gives it all.

But, faith is not safe. It is easier to keep God at an arm's length, to keep Him away. But, that will not bring life. That may bring the illusion of life, but not life itself. Our faith is often dry and weak because we keep God at an arms length. Today, invite Him in. Let Him have His way. Let Him work. And, jump when He says jump. You will be amazed at the life you receive.

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 11:1-12

We see in this famous "Hall of Faith" the many acts of those great people of faith. And, notice what this faith does. It moves us to action. It moves us to a holy life. It moves us to love God and love our neighbor. It moves us to live for God with all that we are.

Faith is not just a feeling we feel alone, faith is a force that moves us to live for God in all that we do. Faith tells us that through God, we can climb that mountain, with that faith, defeat the power of sin, live free and a actually live for God. Faith starts with that belief in God, and if we believe, do we not believe that God can do all things.

It is one thing to believe in God. It is another to believe that God is still alive, working, challenging, calling, saving, and yes, calling us to do things that we might not want to do. But, that is true faith. James says that even the devils believe. Faith is not just believing in God. Faith is allowing God to change your life. Today, I hope we have true faith.

Gospel Lesson

John 6:35-42, 48-51

Those that come to Jesus will never huger or thirst. I was reading a Psalm this morning, Psalm 34 and it said that even the young lions will grow hungry, but those that wait and trust upon the Lord will never be hungry. We all hunger, we all thirst, but not just for food or drink, but for life. For true, life changing life. For faith that goes beyond the ordinary, for life that goes beyond the mundane, for meaning and relevance in life.

And today, our Savior says, come to me. And I will give you life and food and drink. Today, if you hunger, do not try to feed yourself on the world. Today, if you thrust, do not to try to satisfy yourself on the world. They will leave you empty. But, Jesus, He is life, He is the bread from heaven, He is the living water. He will supply our needs, and give us life. Oh, if we will simply bow down to Him and live in His grace.