Praise Erupts

Throughout the year we acknowledge and rejoice in the truth of Emmanuel. God with us is the fundamental reality that fills our lives with hope. An important part of the Advent celebration is to pause for a season of special reflection on the gravity of God's presence in our lives. After weeks of hearing Advent this and Advent that we may lose sight of the real beauty of the season. We must remember that we are not really interested in seeing how much money we can raise, or putting on the appearance of a congregation that cares for its community. At the heart of all we do during this time of year is the hope that Jesus has come, and the final goal is that we will allow him to move deeper into our hearts and lives. So on this day after Christmas we offer one final burst of praise, not for the successes we have achieved, but for the majesty of the King who was born so many years ago.

Creative Power
Through the course of our lives we come to believe that we are the makers of our fortune and the masters of our destiny, but this morning I would like to turn your attention to a reality that is rarely mentioned and is often hard to believe. Never forget that all the good that is within you finds its place in your life because of the creative power of God. We can look at the mystery of the starry night, or the might of the snow covered mountains and see the power of God's creative energy, but the most awe inspiring statement of God's creativity is found inside each of us. The heart that is filled with compassion, the past that has been redeemed, the future filled with hope, and the life that is abundant are all marks of the creative power of God. In wrapping up the Christmas season and bringing this year to a close, take a moment to wonder at the glory of what God has created in you.

Awesome Product
Never forget that we are the awesome product of God's creation and Christ's love. God is not content just to create something; he is committed to creating something that is good. This involves correcting, pruning, refining, and redeeming his people. He has created us to be the crown jewel of all that exists, and he is at work through his Son to make us everything he knows we can be. Would you be willing to make the work of God in your life the most important and most exciting event of all of your life?

Transforming Presence
When praise for the remarkable work that God is doing in our lives becomes the heartbeat of our daily rhythms we discover something truly remarkable. You and I become something different than we ever imagined. By the power of God and love of Jesus we are transformed from ordinary people into saints of the Most High God. This is your future and your destiny. This is the purpose that God has in store for you. That you will no longer be ordinary. He is committed to the extraordinary becoming visible in your life. As you commit your whole self to loving God and loving people he will make in you a beacon that shines for the world to see, leading others to the power and glory of God through Christ.

So as this year comes to a close, we are each invited to reflect on and remember the significant ways that Jesus as intersected with our lives. We must never forget that we are not self-governing individuals, but we are created by and for God, through the power of the Son. We are placed in this specific time and specific place not so that we may be blessed ourselves, but so that we may become a channel for God's blessing to the world he created. And perhaps most importantly, we are made new by the power of the Son. Through his love and goodness we are able to discover the very best in ourselves and in one another. So before you rush off to the next thing on your calendar pause one more time to be caught up in the majesty and wonder of Jesus. The one who was, and is, and is to come. Rejoice in him because his work is incomparable and his power is never ending. In him we find the key to life and the source of hope.

 

~Cliff