Check the Loot
The other day, I asked someone what loot they came up with, and they weren’t sure what I meant. I figured it was an obvious question, but as I have come to realize, nothing I think is obvious. I’ve been considering a few things this Christmas and the first is, do we truly hold the Christmas spirit in our daily life? Second, how much emphasis do we put on the ‘stuff’ we get? While there’s no doubt, I was very surprised by some of my items I received as they were not on my list, but fit me very well. I will say this, I am immensely blessed this year. I received far more then I deserved and I cannot express the happiness I felt. While I am very happy for what I received this year, I can safely say nothing compares to the gift of that baby boy we celebrate.
We give gifts to our loved ones the same way Jesus received gifts. While Jesus did not receive the Wise Men’s gifts the night he was born, we honor that tradition. I see that I am a nobody, and all I’m doing is trying to share the word about somebody. (Casting Crowns) I have come to realize for so many years I wanted to make a difference in this world. I wanted to be remembered for making a difference, but as I have grown I have realized it’s not about me. It’s not even about the people around me, for the only one I need to please is my Heavenly Father. I work for his pleasure, I work for the glory of God, and my reward will be eternal salvation in Heaven. That’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for. It’s time for me to change my focus and step back from my own desire, and focus on the desire of my Abba.
I spent so long in my life looking for others for approval, for acceptance, and as I am now realizing, it’s Christ I needed the approval from. My heart was wrapped in chains, and nothing would ever quench the thirst I had. I was held in bondage under the twisted notion that what I did in this life mattered if it wasn’t for the right reasons. I held onto the idea that if I worked hard enough, if I gave enough, if I helped enough that I would be accepted, that my gifts of my heart, or my time, would win over those around me, but those I was giving myself to were of this world, and my gift would be in vein. I wanted to be accepted by the world, and I was wrong thinking their acceptance would account for anything. It is in scripture I found the gift that has lasted a lifetime. Romans 12:2“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The gifts I wanted would never satisfy and it took me years before I found that.
While we are going through the loot we got please keep in mind the gift of the living waters, the gift of love and grace we were giving in that baby boy’s sacrifice. No matter how much we love the gifts we get they are nothing compared to the gift of salvation and forgiveness of our sins. There is nothing greater and we best not loose sight of that. Sure it’s nice to have cool gadgets and toys but we can’t take them with us. It’s better to enjoy the time with friends and family over the stuff we get.
The Arrow Preacher 