Christmas is a time for good feelings, but being a Christian is challenging!
PRAY for God to give you a deep appreciation for who Jesus is through today's reading!
REFLECT
The twelve apostles were called; it's good that they had that personal call from Jesus because what He was calling them to do was very daunting. The instructions for how to go out and minister to people were a gut-check: the work itself was amazing and then to go by faith and trusting in God to provide what you needed daily - it's like the lesson the Israelites learned in Exodus through Deuteronomy (and beyond). And the the words of persecution, family upheaval, "brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death" (21) - these are scary, scary words. We have a much more sanitized version of Christianity in the United States. But there really are Christians all over the world being persecuted, living out these realities first-hand. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (28) - oh, these words are so challenging. Following Jesus, even at Christmastime, includes these challenges. But God is with us! Immanuel - God is with us!
RESPOND
What view of Christianity do you have in your mind? How do you envision following God to be? Easy? Blessed all the time? Did you choose Jesus just for His blessings, or did you choose to follow Jesus because it's the right thing to do and He is worthy and deserving of all honor, and of our obedience. It's not easy. It's not supposed to be easy. Don't fall for false Gospels. Jesus isn't here to make things easier, but He is here to make things right! Follow Jesus, die to yourself, but receive real life through His power at work in you.
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