Friday Fight 154: Our Invitation to Answer

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF154.

When we think about Christ in our lives, what comes to mind? Answering this question will take time as we must consider the core of our faith. As we do, where does this journey take us in our constant surrender of submitting to Christ? Today, let's look at this as not only an invitation but also how we accept this invitation each day. Regardless of our journey, our story should begin with thanksgiving because nothing in heaven is ever withheld from us.

Our Invitation to Answer:

Let's begin by focusing on an example that may help us apply this lesson. What comes to mind when we consider purchasing a celebratory gift for a loved one? It may seem like a strange question, but we can offer something traditional or want them to have the gift of an experience. When we consider the core of our faith, let's ask ourselves if seeking Christ is an experience with a living Savior in a growing relationship or just an idea taught to us. Perhaps we have yet to know Him personally, and He becomes like a repeated message we have been told countless times. Our faith can involve joining a church, inheriting a religion, or following in our parents' footsteps. All of these are good, but could we define our journey to better refine our devotion to following Him? Matthew 28:6 A says “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”

As we surrender to Christ's path, let's reflect upon what compels our desires to draw closer to Him. In this chapter, we see that the two Marys went to be near Christ one more time. The Holy Spirit led them to an empty tomb. When we think about Christ, are we so devoted to Him that we would fall to our knees at His grave one last time just to be near Him, or do we seek Him because of a pattern those around us have created….and we now are repeating it?

In experiencing Christ in our everyday life, our relationship becomes personal. We are not only joining a church or inheriting a religion. Instead, accepting this invitation creates a real relationship with our Savior that knows no bounds. Our lives will be refined to a continuous surrender rather than a repeating scheduled event on Sundays. It means desiring to be so close to Christ that we would seek the comfort of His empty tomb, just as the two women had.

Let's focus on Christ as the ultimate gift we want to experience continually. When we seek Him throughout each day all our focus, intentions, and plans that we believe are firmly set in place, soon become entirely shattered because of the power of His love and grace. Christ wants to speak to each of us personally, and when He does, everything we carry that is of the flesh transforms into tools He can use for good. Being invited to the empty tomb is an opportunity to look at ourselves and Him. Because He is risen and alive, we can have a personal relationship with Him that will exceed our every desire.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert