November 16, 2021
Can we be the one to bring the peace on the holidays?
This is to you sweet girl- God loves you and you can do this. You can do hard things. Never doubt yourself or His love.
“Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.”
As we launch into his holiday season, some of us may be having a slight panic attack thinking of facing family members at the Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
The judgment. The pitty. The worry. The shame. The guilt. The anger. The lack of forgiveness.
First, these feelings are real. I get it and you are not alone.
There is hardly anything in this world more uncomfortable than being with people that you love, you know they love you, but the misunderstanding of each other seems to be immeasurable.
At my own table, I want nothing more than for my dad to be proud of me in my life. I want him to recognize my accomplishments, but more importantly, I’d love to share with him more of who I am at my core. I would love to tell him about the change Jesus has made in my life and how I know His love. I would love to talk to him about the peace I have and how badly I would love for him to know that too. I would love for him to know that I know I am not going to outer darkness when I die and not to worry about my salvation. I would love for him to know that I am sorry. For what, I’m not quite sure- the fact that because of his apostate kids and a nonbelieving wife, I’m sorry we are preventing him from going to the highest level of heaven? But then I remember I’m not sorry about that because none of that is real. I’m sorry he believes that even though I am not responsible for his belief. I’m sorry because I know that has to be so hard for him. I can’t imagine the sadness he must feel believing that. I’m sorry that we can’t find a way to communicate. I’m sorry that I don’t and may never know how he really feels because I’m too chicken to bring it up. I’m sorry I still hold anger in my heart. I’m sorry that I can’t do a better job witnessing to one of the most important people in my life. I wish things were different.
I pray one day maybe they will be different.
Pretty girl, what does your table look like. Does it sound like mine? Or maybe you and your family are able to talk about it. Or maybe you do, but it just isn’t good. Maybe you have a mom that says too much and makes you feel two inches tall, a brother-in-law that outwardly expresses his concern for you and your whole families future without the church, and a sister that just keeps inviting you back to the church and says she just doesn’t get it. “I think you are just lost,” she says.
Maybe they want nothing to do with you. Maybe you have been shunned. Maybe you can’t even talk to each other without an explosive fight and every discrepancy of everything that has ever happened coming out. Maybe you can’t talk at all.
But you know you are not lost- You have been found by Jesus, and even though you love these people and they make you crazy, nothing compares to the peace of Jesus- He called you by name.
So before the turkey comes out and all gloves are off at the table…
…let’s go over 3 Bible Truths to bring peace while Risking Rejection at the Holiday Table, so you Can be the one to Bring the Peace this Season.
Are you Risking Rejection at the Holiday Table? 3 Bible Truths to Bring Peace.
1. Love
I know it sounds cliche, but love really does make the world go ‘round. All you need is love, doodododo The Beatles, ya’ll.
No actually, love really is the most important thing we can bring to any table in any walk of life, with anyone and everyone we deal with.
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8 ESV
Love is so important that Jesus said this…
“…Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
There is no other commandment greater than these!
Well, dang.
The truth is we even when it’s hard, we think we are being defeated, it feels like weakness and it feels against everything else you want to do, showing love toward everyone involved will never be the wrong thing. Feelings can get us into trouble.
What does the bible say about love?
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ~ 1Corinthians 13:4-7
Does this mean we need to become a door-mat? No! But a little patience and a kind word can go a long way.
2. Armor of God
“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ”
This may seem extreme, but it’s not. When we give our lives to Christ, die in the flesh, and are reborn in the spirit of God the temptations of the flesh do not go away. I might be sounding crazy here. This is all straight out of Romans, my favorite book. What bI am saying Pretty Girl, is that we must put on our armor of God at all times. Know that you may be told something by someone you love no less, that really gets under your skin and could make you question your choices when it comes to having left the church. You may feel rock-solid with Jesus, but your family is your criptonite.
Put on your Armor of God.
Know that there will be things that challenge you every step of the way, but suit up. Be ready for it. Not to fight outwardly. Please don’t think I am saying to go to war. No, this passage, this instruction is for us to suit up mentally to know what Jesus wants from us, for us, and with us.
What does the bible say?
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. ~Ephesians 6:14-18
3. Be the Light
Okay, let’s think about this. You are trying to convince your whole family leaving the church was the best choice for you. You have a sense of peace like nothing you have felt before. You are joyful and genuinely over the moon that you have found the love of Jesus.
Then you lose your temper, become hurt but their unsolicited opinions, and you’re offended.
Was this very Christ-like?
Don’t get me wrong, I get it and no judgement, but as the saying goes, “you catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.”
If you take any of this into your heart today from this little sermon, I would like it to be this…
My husband and I got into a faith argument a little while back. It really upset me. The next day I was doing my daily devotional and decided to keep reading- this was the verse-
“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” ~1 Peter 3:1-2 NIV
Very odd how God works sometimes. No doubt, this was God’s way of showing me that my words against my husband were not going to change his mind. You telling everyone all the reasons why they are wrong and you are right will get you nowhere no matter how much you feel like you get through.
Your actions walking with Christ are evident in your life and that is the light Jesus asked you to be.
Be the light!
Not just at the holiday table, but be the light of Jesus everywhere you go.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
