6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
In other words, God desires a sense of seriousness when a person engages in this spiritual exercise. I am reminded how we are told in Scripture, in the book of 1st Peter, to be sober-minded. During this Christmas season, amidst the fun and fellowship, we can also be prompted to take time to think about why Jesus came to earth and to draw near to Him, allowing Him to show us more about Himself and what He wants to do in us.
We continue our journey Around the World in 25 Days! in the Faith Radio Advent Guide, and we continue our five days on the continent of Africa. In Egypt, there is a commemoration called, Kiahk, which is the month leading up to Christmas on January 7; that's according to the website, WorldHolidayTraditions.com, which reports that Kiahk includes a vegan Holy Nativity Fast. Biscuits, called “kahk,” are eaten to break the fast and given as gifts. Our corresponding Scripture passage is
in Luke chapter 2:
10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
We talked yesterday about our identity in Christ; and I want to think about how, in Christ, we cannot separate the practice of our faith from who we are. If we name the name of Christ, then ideally His Word will govern all we do. There are those in culture today that want Christians to act in a manner that is different than what we say we believe. They want Christians to compartmentalize their faith and keep it to themselves. But, when you think about it, if we are devoted followers of Christ, that is an unrealistic expectation. We are called to deny ourselves, just as the participants in Kiahk deny themselves, and follow Jesus.
And, apparently, Sheriff Smith in Walker County is standing strong. The article relates that: "...T.J. Armstrong, the community relations officer with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, took to social media (his personal page)...to note that Smith would not be backing down." He wrote, “We consider it a great honor to be considered and to have received a wonderful letter from the ‘Freedom From Religion’ organization. Proud to have a sheriff that won’t bow to political pressure or the devices of the enemy!”
The article also says that:
Earlier, we spoke of putting on the Lord Jesus. Many who get dressed for work put on a uniform, others have a set of clothes that conform to a dress code, written or unwritten. I don't show up at Faith Radio during the week in a t-shirt and shorts or a set of workout clothes. Spiritually speaking, we are to put on Christ as we embark on our daily activities. I believe it was Dr. Stanley who talked about verbally putting on the armor of God that we find outlined in Ephesians 6; as Captain America says, "suit up!" If we have on our "Jesus clothes," that means we don't suppress the expression of His presence.
We can also be reminded to pray for those who protect us, and that includes praying for their protection - that is physically, for sure, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The deaths of "Big John" Williams in Lowndes County or Billy Clardy III, the officer in Huntsville who was killed in the line of duty, can remind us that our protectors face stiff challenges - there is evil in the world, and they are called by God to confront it.
+++++
We continue our journey Around the World in 25 Days! in the Faith Radio Advent Guide, and we continue our five days on the continent of Africa. In Egypt, there is a commemoration called, Kiahk, which is the month leading up to Christmas on January 7; that's according to the website, WorldHolidayTraditions.com, which reports that Kiahk includes a vegan Holy Nativity Fast. Biscuits, called “kahk,” are eaten to break the fast and given as gifts. Our corresponding Scripture passage is
in Luke chapter 2:
10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
We talked yesterday about our identity in Christ; and I want to think about how, in Christ, we cannot separate the practice of our faith from who we are. If we name the name of Christ, then ideally His Word will govern all we do. There are those in culture today that want Christians to act in a manner that is different than what we say we believe. They want Christians to compartmentalize their faith and keep it to themselves. But, when you think about it, if we are devoted followers of Christ, that is an unrealistic expectation. We are called to deny ourselves, just as the participants in Kiahk deny themselves, and follow Jesus.
Consider the case of an Alabama sheriff who is facing demands to suppress his faith. According to ChristianNews.net, the so-called Freedom From Religion Foundation...
...contacted Sheriff Nick Smith of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 26 to advise that a citizen had expressed concern that Smith’s office “has a pattern of calling on citizens to pray during times of tragedy.”
“We write to encourage your office to use more inclusive language when posting on social media,” it wrote.Now, I for one, am encouraged when those who serve and protect share their faith. I believe their trust in the Lord and reliance on God's power can result in their being excellent public servants, and I think that applies to everyone, in whatever we are called to do. Our law enforcement, first responders, and military face difficult challenges on a consistent basis, and it can be assuring to know that they are plugged in to the source of sound wisdom.
Specifically, FFRF pointed to two recent posts: One lamented the tragic shooting death of fellow Sheriff “Big John” Williams and commented, “Our prayers are with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office family as they deal with this senseless tragedy.” Another was an official statement regarding a 14-year-old boy who was accidentally hit by a sheriff’s deputy as the teen was riding his four wheeler.
And, apparently, Sheriff Smith in Walker County is standing strong. The article relates that: "...T.J. Armstrong, the community relations officer with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, took to social media (his personal page)...to note that Smith would not be backing down." He wrote, “We consider it a great honor to be considered and to have received a wonderful letter from the ‘Freedom From Religion’ organization. Proud to have a sheriff that won’t bow to political pressure or the devices of the enemy!”
The article also says that:
Armstrong also told local television station CBS 42 that he doesn’t see the department promoting a singular religion by calling the community to prayer.
“I believe that when we ask people to pray, people see our hearts and they see that compassion and they respond to that,” he stated.So, there's our first consideration: believers in Christ are called to let others see our compassion. We have a responsibility to love the Lord first, then to allow that love to flow from our lives. That love for Him will drive us to live a tangible life of love and service.
Earlier, we spoke of putting on the Lord Jesus. Many who get dressed for work put on a uniform, others have a set of clothes that conform to a dress code, written or unwritten. I don't show up at Faith Radio during the week in a t-shirt and shorts or a set of workout clothes. Spiritually speaking, we are to put on Christ as we embark on our daily activities. I believe it was Dr. Stanley who talked about verbally putting on the armor of God that we find outlined in Ephesians 6; as Captain America says, "suit up!" If we have on our "Jesus clothes," that means we don't suppress the expression of His presence.
We can also be reminded to pray for those who protect us, and that includes praying for their protection - that is physically, for sure, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The deaths of "Big John" Williams in Lowndes County or Billy Clardy III, the officer in Huntsville who was killed in the line of duty, can remind us that our protectors face stiff challenges - there is evil in the world, and they are called by God to confront it.
No comments:
Post a Comment