I certainly hope no one will be offended reading this post. I certainly did not set out to offend anyone...
I had the priviledge of attending a Christmas Eve Service at my grandparents Methodist church this Christmas Eve. You see, normally attending service at their church is very hard for me. The lack of life, desire, seekers of Truth, reverence for God or His Word, and presence of His Spirit moving are enough to suffocate me. Part of this is just me, and part of it is the difference between what I have grown accustomed to at my own Church.
But this Christmas Eve was different. From the moment I walked through the doors, it was different. The presence of the Holy Spirit was heavy in our midst. The words to the traditional Christmas hymns pierced deeply into my heart.
And in the sermon the minister talked about how Good News should bring about life change. He used examples from our daily lives; like the good news of getting into the college of your choice, or the good news of getting married or the good news of being called to a ministry.
The first announcement of the Good News was to the shepherds. And the amazing thing to me was that they were willing to risk their very livelihood after hearing the Good News of the Saviour's birth. They "hurried" to find the Saviour, then after worshipping Him they ran through Bethlehem telling every person they could find (awake or asleep).
Where were their sheep? Who watched their flocks?
That didn't matter to them.
Why?
A Saviour had been born, and He was here for ALL people.
He came for them.
And He came for you.
But do we let the Good News of Christ's arrival, His life, and His death, do we let this Good News change us the way the shepherds did?
Do we risk everything to share the Good News we have with those who don't already know?
Do we sacrifice our sleep, our schedules, and even our finances to ensure that EVERYONE knows of Christ's arrival?
How have you let the Good News change you today?
My prayer is that the Good News will change you and me more and more each day of this new year...
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Good News...
Posted by Ashlee Liddell at 10:45 AM
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2 comments:
First off, let me just say: If that last entry is your idea of being "offensive", my blog entries are going to be flat out rude...
Great entry! I just finished posting something on the homeless in America and got into a discussion with Tami about how we as Christians don't do enough because of the "inconvenience" it may place in our lives.
It's so easy to find excuses and dismiss, not only helping the poor and those in need, but also letting them know that Jesus loves them and that he died for them.
To answer your questions on a more personal level, I'll shamefully be the absolute first to say, very simply, NO....
I don't sacrifice my sleep, schedule, or finances enough. They're too "important"....
I don't risk everything for the Good News. I'm too "proud"....
I don't help those in need. They've brought it upon themselves....
Funny how eveything centers around me....
Thanks for your comments Josh...
This has been mulling around in my head and on my heart for several days now, and I can not shake it either.
Funny how God works, isn't it?
For those of you interested in reading a very passionated and convicted blog post written by Josh, please visit his blog at
www.teamkrzyzewski.blogspot.com
A warning though, you will be challenged....
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