Apostle Peter spoke in his letter to the Gentiles about suffering as Christians. He encouraged them to persevere while they are being persecuted for their faith. He said that this tests their faith and allows them to participate in the suffering of Christ. We discussed in my small group the other day in what ways do we get persecuted in our culture for our faith. We came up with only couple of examples. Though people in other countries go to prison for being Christians, and some get martyred, in the U.S. we have retired into living politically-correct lives. This seems safe but it actually prevents us from openly sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom. The Bible is challenging us to be more radical than that. I think a great way in which we can get closer to the suffering of Christ is to give up our conveniences; to give up, one habit a time, those things which keep us from loving God and serving others. I love the Christmas Conspiracy we practice in Grace Church. This is the second year in which my friends and I stopped giving each other 'X-mas' presents but instead we went out of our homes and served those in need. I can no more imagine Christmas any other way; I now celebrate Christmas by experiencing the love which Jesus shows us.
The other day a friend of mine spoke with a Hindu man overseas and they openly shared about their backgrounds and respective faiths. When my friend asked the man what did he understand Christianity to be, his answer humbled me. He went to a Christian school as a child in his country and there met sisters who worked for a small salary and preached Christianity in a good way through prayers. He said that he learned a lot from those prayers. He said: "Christianity is being simple and helping others who are in need. Christianity doesn't say bad about other religions.” Through the service of nuns who had given up comfortable life because of their faith, this man had not only heard but had also experienced the simple but very definite commands which Jesus gave us: to love God and love others.
Is there a way in your life in which you can share with those who suffer and show them the love of our gospel? What one habit might be preventing you from doing this?
Have a wonderful active expectation of the upcoming celebration of the birth of our Savior, our Conspirator-in-chief, our Lord Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas to you!
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