We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
I was reading my devotions today about how God regularly tries to show us when we are veering off in the wrong direction, but we continue until something, or someone, happens and we have to change course...change to the right course, God's course.
The example was our traditions. For instance, I love the Christmas season. I love the beautiful trees, the Christmas songs, giving gifts, cookies, visiting family, etc. It is all so cozy and warm to me. I love it!
However, because I am so focused on the warm and cozy, I no longer am focused on what God wants. I am focused on feeling warm and cozy and creating that effect for everyone else to see. That makes my focus...me...and how I want everyone else to feel! I find it surprising and scary that I do all these preparations for Christmas for what I think are the right reasons, and as it turns out my preparations are for the wrong reasons...me!
At no time do I think "this will bring others closer to God." At no time do I think, "wow, look at the beauty of decorations and family that God created!" No, I think "look at what I just put together...isn't it pretty!"
So, where is my focus when I am working through all my precious traditions? Am I doing it to share God's love? Am I doing it because I have always done it and it's pretty? I have realized that I am doing it for myself! All these beautiful decorations that should reflect God's beautiful love for us, and I have made them vein pursuits!
Why do you do your traditions? Are your Christmas decorations and festivities to show the story of Christmas? Do you even need decorations to do that? Are all the pursuits and frenzied shopping and doing and activities of this season to share God's love?
Father, please help me focus on you and the gift you gave of Jesus this season...not on my feeble attempts to dress up the holiday for my own selfish reasons. Instead, make the true meaning of Christmas real for everyone who meets me! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
The example was our traditions. For instance, I love the Christmas season. I love the beautiful trees, the Christmas songs, giving gifts, cookies, visiting family, etc. It is all so cozy and warm to me. I love it!
However, because I am so focused on the warm and cozy, I no longer am focused on what God wants. I am focused on feeling warm and cozy and creating that effect for everyone else to see. That makes my focus...me...and how I want everyone else to feel! I find it surprising and scary that I do all these preparations for Christmas for what I think are the right reasons, and as it turns out my preparations are for the wrong reasons...me!
At no time do I think "this will bring others closer to God." At no time do I think, "wow, look at the beauty of decorations and family that God created!" No, I think "look at what I just put together...isn't it pretty!"
So, where is my focus when I am working through all my precious traditions? Am I doing it to share God's love? Am I doing it because I have always done it and it's pretty? I have realized that I am doing it for myself! All these beautiful decorations that should reflect God's beautiful love for us, and I have made them vein pursuits!
Why do you do your traditions? Are your Christmas decorations and festivities to show the story of Christmas? Do you even need decorations to do that? Are all the pursuits and frenzied shopping and doing and activities of this season to share God's love?
Father, please help me focus on you and the gift you gave of Jesus this season...not on my feeble attempts to dress up the holiday for my own selfish reasons. Instead, make the true meaning of Christmas real for everyone who meets me! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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Thank you for your comments. I will review then in a few days! I hope you see God's blessings for you this week!