January 1st, 2021
Staying Focused on Jesus - Friday – Anna Williams
Do Not Hold Back
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
One of my favorite Christmas carols is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” It was written in 1710 in Latin and then later translated into English in 1851. Matthew 1:23 says that Jesus was to be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” For me, it is such a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas—that the Creator of the Universe chose to become human to understand us better and to give his life for us ultimately.
We do not follow a set of mandates or rules that carelessly came from above without understanding. Jesus himself walked this earth and set the example for how we can live. He didn’t just talk about it.
When we ask Jesus to be Lord of our lives, we choose to follow him and imitate him. This relationship means allowing ourselves a transformational existence by giving up our old way of doing things. It means sacrifice. Jesus didn’t hold back when he walked to Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him there. He didn’t plead for his release when he went before Pilate. Jesus didn’t call down the hosts of angels at his disposal to rescue him when crucified on the cross. He laid it all on the line for us.
Read that last paragraph again and ask yourself: What does that mean to you? What have you been holding back from him?
Do Not Hold Back
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
One of my favorite Christmas carols is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” It was written in 1710 in Latin and then later translated into English in 1851. Matthew 1:23 says that Jesus was to be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” For me, it is such a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas—that the Creator of the Universe chose to become human to understand us better and to give his life for us ultimately.
We do not follow a set of mandates or rules that carelessly came from above without understanding. Jesus himself walked this earth and set the example for how we can live. He didn’t just talk about it.
When we ask Jesus to be Lord of our lives, we choose to follow him and imitate him. This relationship means allowing ourselves a transformational existence by giving up our old way of doing things. It means sacrifice. Jesus didn’t hold back when he walked to Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him there. He didn’t plead for his release when he went before Pilate. Jesus didn’t call down the hosts of angels at his disposal to rescue him when crucified on the cross. He laid it all on the line for us.
Read that last paragraph again and ask yourself: What does that mean to you? What have you been holding back from him?
Posted in Staying Focused on Jesus
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