“Celebrate, Celebrate….Dance to the Music!!!”

I love the story of Jesus’ miracle at the Cana wedding.  It’s significant the first miracle that Jesus performs in the gospel of John is to create wine at a wedding where it’s run out. What we see throughout the ministry of Jesus is that He is very much at home at celebrations, weddings and feasts. In fact, when He tells stories in an effort to help people understand the kingdom of God, his favorite setting for the story is a feast or a party. One thing we learn from this miracle is that Jesus not only tolerates celebration, he encourages it.

Christians should always seek to imitate Jesus’ way of heart and life. This means that part of being a disciple means getting really comfortable with celebration. Stories like this one dominate the landscape of the New Testament. Read through the New Testament and notice how the idea of celebrating, feasting, or rejoicing is held up as God’s ideal. There is nothing wrong with celebration. In fact, there’s something wrong with not celebrating. I believe this story tells us a great deal about who God is, and who we as His people should strive to become.

So, here’s an image of God that I love: God the Celebrator. The God that celebrates when lost coins are found, lost children come home…and a God who keeps the celebration going when the wine has run out. God’s celebratory nature is but one more reason to give Him praise…to celebrate the great Celebrator.

We as Christians have, above all others, reason to celebrate. This should be evident in our lives, worship, ministry, and perhaps even our countenance. And  its time for us to consider if we as His Church are celebrating too little.   So as the “old song” says, “Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the (God) Music.”  Remember, God is Good….All The Time!

 

 

How attractive are you?

The way that others view you will have a direct affect on how they also view the gospel message.  This is an amazing realization isn’t it!

While Paul was writing to Titus he thought he would address those Christians who find themselves in a position of slavery.  He writes, “Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way (2:9-10).” For Paul, what owners understood about the Gospel came from how their Christian slaves communicated it. Slaves were to live lives that made the gospel message “attractive in every way.”

This is a charge that is applicable to all of us today – to everyone everywhere that wears the name of Christ.  We are called to live lives that make the gospel of Christ “attractive in every way.” So I go back to my original statement: how people in the world view you directly affects how they will also view the gospel message.

I am constantly amazed by the tremendous trust that God puts into clay pots like myself.  I do not claim to be strong and unfazed by temptation, but rather I am weak and susceptible to many temptations.  Yet, God trusts me.  God trusts you.  How encouraging!  Despite our downfalls and goofs, God still says, “I trust you with my gospel.” Do not let this frighten you.  Be encouraged because God would not give you this great responsibility if He did not believe you were capable.  You are capable of being “attractive for the sake of the gospel.”  So be willing to change what needs to be changed in your life so that the message of Christ can be heard loud and clear to those around you.

Samaritan Kindness is Preaching the Gospel

In her book Kindness: Reaching Out to Others, Phyllis J. Le Peau relates this story: “Some graduate school students, training to be ministers were asked to preach on the story of the Good Samaritan. When the hour arrived for their sermon, each one was deliberately delayed en route to class. As the students raced across campus, they encountered a person who pretended to be in need. Ironically, not one of the students stopped to help.” Le Peau commented, “After all, they had an important sermon to preach.”

Followers of Christ can preach powerful sermons to the world when they reflect God’s kindness by showing Samaritan kindness to others, and not just talking about it.

What about us? Every time we meet someone in need, we live the parable of the Good Samaritan. Do we take the time and trouble to get involved? Perhaps we can assist a neighbor who is in material need, or lend a sympathetic ear to a troubled person. Maybe we can share the gospel with someone the Lord brings into our lives today. Or will we be like the religious leaders who quickly passed by on the other side and offered no help?

Let’s honor our Lord, Jesus by responding to the needs of others as He would. Let’s never forget, kindness is never out of season, it is how we carry out The Great Commission to go into  “all the world and preach the Gospel!”