An Unconventional Christmas Eve Message
December 24, 2024
This week brought so much change to so many people around the nation. Like many of you, my job went online. My son’s schooling went online. I had to go to several stores to find soap. Stores usually stockpiled with plenty are looking empty.
Is this the United States? It feels like things have changed, but I keep thinking about
what has always been true,
every single day for my entire life:
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)
I live around affluence.
Generally speaking, people drive reliable cars, can pay their bills, and have a phone that connects them to people, allows them to conduct business remotely, and enables them to get an answer to any question with just a few clicks. In other words, I live in a society of people who have the ability to make a plan and get things done.
That makes us prone to having a false sense of power.
Truth is, none of us have inherent power, meaning none of us can control one thing outside ourselves. I expect my computer to turn on today and my car to start when I start it later today, but truth is, I can’t make this computer turn on or make my car start or guarantee I will get anywhere without a flat tire or accident.
Every time something works out, it’s God’s grace.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1)
Uncertainty has always been a part of our life.
We just forget.
God will take care of us again today. Our life is in His hands again today. He has the same expectations of us today that He always has: Walk closely with Him today and then go to bed.
But we have never known what tomorrow will bring.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
I am so thankful we are safe and secure in God’s larger story for our lives and history. I am so thankful during this week of change that nothing has changed.
Not really.
Picture Explanation: Every year without fail these beautiful trees blossom right on time, and they bloomed this week. I don’t know what these are but I appreciated their beauty immensely as I walked across campus uncertain of how the rest of the semester will look like. Their certain arrival and beauty cheered my heart and I walked closely with God that day and then went to bed. Same as always.
© 2020 by Oaks Ministries. All rights reserved.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6
4 Responses
Thank you, Laurie, for the reminder as to where our perspective needs to be now! We need to be conscientious for our own sakes and the sake of others, but we also need to trust God fully. He knew this was coming. He is not surprised. He is not disturbed. He is not stressed. He is not fearful. We can trust that all will work together for His eternal purposes and ultimately for our own good.
Are the flowers a type of Magnolia? I’ve seen those up north, too, but a lot later in spring!
A type of magnolia makes sense! Hadn’t thought of that, but I don’t know. They are just pretty and fragile. They don’t last long. Fleeting.
So glad God is surprised by nothing. I hope to display His nature to the world — not disturbed, not stressed, not fearful.
Love you guys hope you are all safe
So far, so good! Same to you!