Saying “Yes” to Jesus
“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
We’re now on the other side of Christmas. Depending on when you read this, Epiphany may have passed, and the season will be officially over. So now what? Part of why the season means so much to many of us is because it passes so quickly (even if you can find candy canes and decorations at stores in August). Our awe and wonder at Almighty and sovereign God coming into our world to save us because He loves us shouldn’t just go back into storage bins for the next eleven months. What will we do with what we learned and felt this Christmas season?
How does God factor into your plans for 2024? While few of us turn a physical page on a calendar anymore, the start of the new year still inspires most of us with a sense of fresh opportunity. As you’ve heard, we’re starting some groups to help people take the next step in their faith journey. We’ll discuss how to better understand the Bible, deepen your prayer life, and discern your gifts and call.
I say all of this about the lessons of Christmas and the opportunity that the new year brings to invite you to consider whether God might be calling you to something new. The scripture above reminds us that Jesus teaches us that the heart of loving is serving. It misses the point of Christmas to remember how God showed us love and not do anything about it. We might waste the gift of a new year by failing to dream and falling into the same patterns. Love has to be put into action.
This month, we will celebrate the ministry of all Christians at church during the coffee hours on January 20 and 21, 2024. Our ministry fair provides a chance to learn more about how you can serve with others in our congregation. There are opportunities to be in ministry with homeless people, prisoners, and others across all age groups. You might feel called to serve in an administrative role, such as our finance or building ministries. It will also be a wonderful way to meet other people in the church and strengthen relationships. Use this opportunity to see where God might be calling you.
Many Christmas stories end with a message that says we should keep the Spirit of Christmas all year long. As you think about how Jesus came into your world in a new way this Christmas, listen to him calling you to follow Him. Saying yes to Him might create your best year yet.
Pastor Scott
