I love wearing my New York Yankees T-shirt that proudly displays all the years of their 27 World Series baseball championships. Some share my joy. A pittance, sad to say. Their sour grapes blab and squeal blatant scorn at this deservedly most-winning team in US sports history. I empathize with woebegone fans of lesser teams! That's quite big of me, isn't it? Still, I can hear their boos and hisses. Oh, the trouble caused by advertising my favorite team with uber braggadocio. Better watch my step. And back.
Micah 6: 8--'He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God'? And Zechariah 7: 9-10--"Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.'"
These verses nudge us to live godly lives without advertising our good deeds, avoiding beating a drum roll for batting a thousand in God's good deed league. I can talk the talk but will I land my feet solidly on His pavement? Doing what I know I should? Not being willy-nilly about living for Jesus. Really following Him. For a change of pace.
Am I the only one who feels like I live far below the standard set by Jesus? I've put 'God is Great' and 'Jesus is Lord' signs framing our car license plates. Does that make any difference? I catch myself driving more like the devil than who I say I follow, receiving a C- grade on good days! Still passing but only by the skin of my teeth.
I'm resolving this new year to be who Jesus wants me to be. Being kind. More considerate and patient (which I want to happen right NOW!). Less the same old me. More like Him.
This is my prayer to the only One who can give me the resolve and the follow-through to make this year more about Jesus than you-know-who. Your prayer also? Would love the company. Especially someone to pick me up when I fall flat on my face!
Happy 2024!
Thank you, Jesus, for always standing with me. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment