One thing I hear people say to me sometimes is this: “Michelle, you’re such a good person.”  Have you ever had this experience?  I think the world is sometimes fascinated when someone chooses not to get drunk at parties, attends church regularly, or goes on mission trips to serve the poor.  When people treat others with respect and dignity, go out of their way to do acts of kindness, have integrity in the workplace, or have a positive attitude despite circumstance, they are seen as radical and different from most others.  These are all things I strive for, so it should not be a surprise when others label me as a “good person.”

But to be honest, it makes me sick.

If people see me as a good person but fail to see Jesus, my good acts are leading everyone astray.  If people think that I am who I am and do the things I do out of my own ‘goodness’ and strength, they are led to think that it all comes down to human effort.  Subsequently, there is no need for a saviour. 

For those of you that know me and think I am a good person, here’s what I have to say: It is ALL Jesus.  If you think I love others, it is because Jesus first loved me.  If you think I have integrity, it is because the Holy Spirit convicts me to do what is right. If you think I have wisdom, it is because God gives it to those who ask. If you think I am pure, it is because Jesus died for my sin, cleansed me form all unrighteousness, and allows me to live in victory over impurity.  If you think I am going to heaven, it is not because of my good works but because of the Cross.  That’s it. 

SHAME ON US FOR TAKING THE CREDIT FOR WHAT JESUS HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES.  We must make it clear to the world that He is the reason we are different.  It would be cruel to mislead people by telling them that we are good on our own.  The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  But when we believe that Jesus died for us on the cross and ask Him to be our Lord and Saviour, He begins to mold us and shape us to be better people. 

If you are a Christ-follower and people see you as a good person, make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Michelle

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Yesterday I met someone and asked them if they were excited about Christmas.  Their reply was this:

“I’ve lived long enough to not be excited about anything anymore.”

This guy is in his forties and openly admits that nothing excites him anymore. Life is boring and dull.  He thinks he has experienced everything there is to experience. 

His comment wouldn’t leave my mind for the rest of the day.  I’m sure as a kid he experienced wonder, anticipation, excitement, and gratitude.  Sadly, life has chipped away at him and he has allowed himself to become hardened. 

But I believe he is merely expressing something that many people feel at Christmas time when they get a little older: things are not exciting anymore.

And maybe that is a good thing. 

Because Christmas is not about stuff.  Maybe this guy has realized that material things do not bring lasting joy and contentment.  No thing can.  Even Christmas decorations, family turkey dinners, and snow falling gently on a perfect winter day eventually lose their wonder.  Why?  Because the peace and fullness everyone craves comes through Christ alone.  Only when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour can we truly be joy-filled. 

In my experience, when I follow His lead and let Him control it, my joy and excitement overflows.  I see the world through a new lens.  I am excited about snow because my Creator made it.  I am excited about turkey because I see food as a blessing from my God.  I appreciate Christmas decorations because I am grateful for the eyesight I have been blessed with. And I appreciate family because of the spiritual journey they share with me throughout the rest of the year.  The seemingly mundane maintain their wonder.

This man was right.  Life is not exciting.  Everything, from travel to people to presents lose their appeal eventually.  Jesus makes life exciting.  He keeps it exciting.  He allows us to see life through a new lens that never gets old.  Are you experiencing that fullness this Christmas season? 

Michelle

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Today’s post is super short, because it simply consists of one question I have been asking myself this whole Christmas season:

Am I worshipping Jesus or am I worshipping Christmas?

Let’s all take an honest look at our lives and motivations this week and answer this question. 

Michelle

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Jay and I watched The Guardian this weekend with our friends Aaron and Tabitha.  It is about rescue swimmers with the Coast Guard who jump in to the Bering Sea out of helicopters to save people from sinking boats and huge waves.  Insane. I never knew a profession like that existed.

The movie reminded me of a story I heard when I was younger of a Christian man who used to be a Buddhist. He was on a quest for truth when he had a dream that rocked him to the core. In the dream he was in a stormy ocean, close to drowning and calling out for help.  Way in the distance he saw Buddha running along the shore, yelling out instructions on how to stay afloat and swim back to safety.

But his energy was failing him.  No matter how hard he tried to follow the instructions he could not. Wave after wave pushed him under.  His body started to cramp.  He finally lost all hope as his body submerged and he felt himself sinking into the depths.

All of a sudden, someone grabbed him and pulled him to the surface.  He gasped for air and felt his body being pulled toward the shore.

It was Jesus.

In this guy’s dream, Buddha had merely yelled out instructions while Jesus had jumped in and rescued him.  He finally understood that while other ‘truths’ had offered instructions on how to live perfectly, Jesus recognized that it was impossible and came to die on the Cross Himself.

What a testimony.

Do you feel like you are drowning in a storm? Place your trust in the one who rescues. He will not let you drown.

Michelle

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Jay and I started watching the show Prison Break a while ago, and finished all four seasons within a few months.  As I was watching one of the early episodes, I was alerted to something that I did not realize was in my heart.  As we got to know some of the characters, I began to hate one with a passion: T-Bag. He was in prison for raping and murdering children, an he was truly a disgusting character the whole way through.  At one point in the show, I remember filling with anger and thinking “even Jesus cannot save this man.”  I didn’t want people like him to ever experience the grace and forgiveness of Christ.

When we were driving to the movie store later that night, I burst into tears and told Jay what I had thought.  I had doubted the power of the Cross and completely denied the power that Jesus holds to redeem the lives of the ugliest sinners.  Even child molesters.

As I have mentioned on this blog before, I am passionate about the fight to end sex trafficking.  I realized that men who traffic women and sell them into a life of rape are just like T-Bag: the ugliest of sinners.  Yet I can’t let hatred for traffickers overtake my life, because Jesus died for them as well.  That is such a hard pill for me to swallow.  Yes, traffickers and child molesters deserve punishment for their actions. Sin always has consequences. But we must believe that Jesus Christ has the power to redeem even them.  The same eternal life that is available to us is available to them…if they choose Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

Who have you written off as unforgivable?  Let us repent of our unbelief and remember the earth shattering power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Michelle

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