I stood in line at
the grocery check-out counter waiting my turn when I glanced to the right. Two
separate magazines, with almost identical headlines, encouraging the reader to
make this New Year, 2016, all about YOU.
I was caught off guard and my heart and spirit began to
hurt.
I remembered a sermon that was preached at a summer camp
years ago “Minimize Me, Maximize You Lord”, I thought about every selfish deed
I had done and the emptiness it brought. I considered the JOY that came from
giving and serving and my spirit grieved that the wrong message was being
shared.
Verse after verse began to scream in my head don’t they know
John 3:30 that says, “He must increase and I must decrease”? Have they not
heard Matthew 16:24 where Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes
to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me”? I
wanted to pick up the magazine and wave it in the air and yell, “What about
Colossians 3:3 “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Or
Philippians 2:4 “do not merely look out for your own personal
interests, but also for the interests of others”?” I began to inwardly proclaim
do you really want everyone to make this the year of Self? Do you know what
that would look like? Do you really understand what you are asking? Can you
even imagine?
Let it play out in your mind for a minute. Let’s take your
marriage. What would happen if you decided 2016 would be all about you? I doubt
your marriage would last till February. How about as a parent? I’ll let you
guess how long your children would survive if you did everything you wanted to
do. What about in your job? Would you still have a job after one day if you did
only what you wanted to do?
This is a natural struggle for our flesh. We desire to do
what we want to do. But our Lord knows best and understands where true JOY
lies. In Acts 20:35 Jesus reminds us ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.” I have to fight to die to my flesh daily. It is a struggle. And when
I do what I want to do and ignore God’s word depression and emptiness follow.
It’s only in surrender to God’s plan and desires for our lives do we experience
JOY. Do you want a change for 2016? Let’s make it a goal to go against the
cultural trend of serving self. Let’s serve OTHERS above and beyond. Let’s seek
ways to help. Let’s go the extra mile. Listen to the Lord and step out in faith
wherever he nudges you.
As for the magazine, my heart went from hurt to hope. Hope
that if we each live for Jesus, share our faith, continue to live for Christ,
and not ourselves that our faith and testimony will speak louder than all the magazine
covers in the world. When the world
hurts and we help, God receives glory. When we see a need and deny our self
then God receives glory. Please don’t
blindly follow the world in search of happiness. True Joy comes only from the
Father, through the son Jesus Christ.
I pray, Lord, that we
will turn from our selfish ways and make this year all about you. Help us to
let go of worldly pursuits and selfish desires. Help us to hear your voice and
walk in the ways you have prepared for us. Help us to surrender our control,
quiet our selfish flesh, and listen to your voice.
