During the holiday season we often are thrown together with those who have known us longest and best, our family and friends. After all, they knew us “when,” and that can sometimes feel awkward, even vulnerable.
As Christians we desperately want those who know us best, to see us as God’s Word describes us in II Corinthians 5:17, new creations in Christ. What a golden opportunity the holiday season brings to show the grace and transforming power of God through our lives – evangelism 101:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judean and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Jesus was telling the disciples, who were in Jerusalem at the time of this instruction, to start witnessing about Him where they were. (Acts 1:4)
The problem many times is during the hustle and bustle of the holidays we too easily forget our mission as Christians. Our focus turns inward, and our goal becomes to get out of what may be an uncomfortable setting as soon as possible.
Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
In view of these truths, what if we change our perspective and begin to look at this holiday season as an opportunity to pick up the cross of Christ, sacrificing our lives for the lives of those around our dinner table? To love our family and friends as Christ loves us – sin and all.
After the last drumstick is consumed, the final piece of crumpled gift wrap is discarded, and Uncle George, with his unsavory comments, has left the building, maywe remember Romans 5:8,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”