A verse popped into my head during the singing at church last Sunday. I think I'm going to make it my theme for the holiday season.
"If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absenece, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippian 2:1-13)
This was actually going to be the basis for my next Christmas sermon, but I found out last night that we are having a guest speaker come in and preach for the month of December. No Christmas sermon from me; however, here is the Christmas blog right before the Thanksgiving dinner.
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves."
That's my holiday theme. It was perfectly modeled by Christ. And the world needs to see Christ through us this holiday season.
I was in a conversation yesterday at work with the kid that I'm helping to homeschool and a random group of people. What makes a hero? The conclusion was that a hero is someone who is selfless. A hero does what he does because it is right, not because it will make him famous. A hero does what he does because it is loving, not because it will garner him accolades. There is no better hero that Jesus Christ.
"For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
This holiday season I hope to let Christ be the hero to others through me. No selfish ambitions. Just a life empowered by God to bring about things for his pleasure. That would make for some Happy Holidays.
Watch out for the potholes.
