A powerful, thought-provoking insight....

Give me a well-trained tongue that has been borne out of silent listening in the sanctuary of my heart.

~ sevensacredpauses by Macrina Wiederkehr



Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Awesome, Grace-Filled Choices

We find ourselves faced with so many choices this time of year. Where do we start? The choices begin at the crack of dawn so to speak. Do we eat breakfast? Do we stop and let someone go in front of us in traffic? Do we ignore the jibe of a tired and frustrated co-worker? Which Christmas tree do we buy? As we progress through the weeks of Advent, preparing ourselves for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, perhaps something else to consider are the choices we make.

God’s choices have been pretty good for us starting with the fact that God chose to make us at all. Are we taking care of ourselves? Are we remembering to feed ourselves spiritually as well as physically? There are so many instances in the New Testament where Jesus was, himself, eating or was responsible for feeding others. Jesus understood the importance of maintaining his body so that he could carry out the ministry he was sent here to do. He also knew the significance of being fed spiritually. He would retire from the crowds and commune with his Father, the vessel would be re-filled to overflowing. The most significant meal, for Christians, would have to be that last Passover meal. A minuscule meal physically, but a feast spiritually.

That brings us, of course, to the choice Jesus had. That awesome, grace-filled choice to do his Father’s will, not his own. What have been our choices that have been awesome and grace-filled? When we think about how we're spending our time, our talents, our gifts, our money and reflect on what we are doing and for whom we are doing it, are we aware of the presence of grace in our lives? We can choose to let that grace inform our choices. As believers in Christ and his choice, our lives should be informed and molded by that choice. So, as we progress toward Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth, let us be reminded of the awesome and grace-filled choice Jesus made and let that guide us in the choices we make each day.

1 comment:

Darkroast Dave said...

Amen!
All of our choices should be grace filled and Brother Paul has given us the mind conditioner required to make those "grace filled" choices. In Philippians 4:8,9 we read: : Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

I pray that God helps us to guard our hearts and minds as Paul also reminded us in Romans that "the things he wants to do he doesn't and the things he doesn't want to do, he does. We are doomed, but, thank you Jesus, forgiven!