Wishing For Moments that Matter

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“I pray now for your Church to be a witness this Christmas season. Let us gossip good news, leak out love, be distracted by kindness, choose generosity, live in wonder. I pray for tangible ways my Christian community may be startling and astounding as a witness to the love of God.” – Lectio 365

3 MEANINGFUL MOMENTS

1ST - EMBRACE MOMENTS WITH GOD.
2ND - ENJOY MOMENTS WITH OTHERS.
3RD - ENGAGE IN MOMENTS FOR OTHERS.

Ezekiel 34:11-13,15-16 - “For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land.
15 This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak...

JESUS DOESN’T JUST BRING US INTO HIS STORY, HE ALSO ENCOURAGES US TO SHARE HIS STORY.

Mark 10:43-45 - Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life —a ransom for many.

Isaiah 53:3–6, 11 - He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him. 4 Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.
11 My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities.

HEBREW TERM FOR “SERVANT” IN ISAIAH 53:11: EBED (עֶבֶד).
The term ‘ebed’ carries the idea of a worker or slave who is subject to another’s will. It implies both action and obedience to a master.

God’s “servant” is one who carries out God’s will faithfully.

THE MOMENTS WE ENGAGE IN SERVING OTHERS ARE ACTUALLY FOR JESUS.

Ephesians 6:6–7 - 6 as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,

Colossians 3:23–24 - 23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

Matthew 25:31–46. - 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

CHRISTMAS SERVING OPPORTUNITIES: