From the Inside Out

Looking ahead at the calendar for 2024, I found more than a few wild-and-crazy celebrations in store for those who care to participate. Just in January alone, we can look forward to:

• National Cream Puff Day—January 2 (Who thought this was a good idea right after the holidays when so many will be embarking on diets?)

• World Logic Day—January 14 (If only we could fix in one day the irrational and absurd thinking that seems to be increasing these days.)

• National Popcorn Day—January 19 (This one I can get behind!)

• National Blonde Brownie Day—January 22 (If you prefer cream cheese brownies, your day is coming February 10.)

• National Backwards Day—January 31 (Seems like we’d benefit more from honoring evidence of going forward—toward integrity, responsibility, and maturity.)

Didn’t I tell you they were wild-and-crazy observances?

To be honest, we Christians are encouraged to celebrate some wild-and-crazy things—things that make no sense at first glance, like:

Weakness

Too many of us assume we have to be supremely talented and gifted in order to be used by God. But the opposite is true.

God most often chooses ordinary people who’ve emptied themselves of prideful ambition and self-centered motives. They are the ones whom God can fill with himself, who become the ideal showcases for his greatness and glory [1].

Turns out, when we recognize just how weak we are—with our inadequacies, missteps, and fears—we’re actually in the best position to manifest the power of God.

Now that’s worth celebrating!

Meekness

The Hebrew word for meekness suggests “being molded.” The meek are God-molded; they’ve submitted to him and are patterning their lives after him [2]. The meek delight in leaving everything in God’s capable hands.

That may sound unappealing to some, but little do they know: the meek get the most out of life.

For example:

• They view life with joyful gratitude, not disgruntled entitlement

• They appreciate their resources—not for the prestige they offer but for their usefulness

• They don’t harbor envy or jealousy, but genuinely enter into the joys of others

And note what God promises to the meek in Psalm 37:11 (above): an abundance of peace. Isn’t that a happy reality to celebrate?

Servanthood

Not many of this world are interested in the role of servant. But God’s kingdom works very differently:

Every day is a new opportunity to discover what eternal business might be lurking in the ordinary business of being human [3].

Bruce Wilkerson

Yes, there is eternal business in serving others as we:

• prepare meal after meal that keeps the family fed, but also nourishes their hearts with comfort and delight

• perform small deeds of kindness—because they’re woven into the larger expanse of God’s far-reaching grace

• work for the benefit of others and the glory to God—whether anyone notices or not

There is honor in such serving.

Trouble

Now I’ve gone too far, some will say. Celebrating difficulty seems downright sadistic. But consider:

We can take delight in what God will do through the trial.

First, God delights in transforming the black-carbon pressures of our lives into diamonds of radiant beauty, as he chips away at the rough places of our character and the distractions in our lives, allowing the Light of Christ to shine with greater clarity.  Such an undertaking rarely happens overnight; it’s a process that takes time [4].

Second, think of those you’ve known or learned about who did shine with the radiant Light of Christ. They undoubtedly faced trouble, yet persevered and triumphed in the end. We too can experience fulfillment as the Light of Christ shines through us to impact others.

Third, while we’re in the midst of the trial, God often brings the sweetest discoveries of himself [5].

These realities also warrant celebration.

The question remains, how will we celebrate?  Perhaps with an ancient song:

[1] Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth, Biblical Womanhood in the Home, 67.

[2] Ralph Sockman, The Higher Happiness, 65.

[3] A Life God Rewards, 114, emphasis added.

[4] Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, 199.

[5] L. B. Cowman, Jim Reimann (ed.), Streams in the Desert, 143.

Art & photo credits: http://www.pixexid.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.pixexid.com; http://www.depositphotos.com; http://www.canva.com; http://www.commons.wikimedia.org.

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