Encounter: Find a quiet place to listen or read Romans 13:8-11 in The Passion Translation and then read through again in one of your favorite versions.
As we prepare to gather on this Sunday before Christmas, our hearts are filled with anticipation and joy for the celebration of Jesus's birth. It’s such a perfect time to reflect on the core values of our faith and the true meaning of love. Romans 13: 8-11 offers us a profound reminder of the importance of love and how it fulfills the law:
Don’t owe anything to anyone, except your outstanding debt to continually love one another, for the one who learns to love has fulfilled every requirement of the law. For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” and every other commandment can be summed up in these words: “Love and value others the same way you love and value yourself.” Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires. To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Romans 13:8-11 TPT
Friday night Jack & I watched the beautiful film "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," directed by Dallas Jenkins. This heartwarming story centers around the Christmas pageant in a small town, which takes an unexpected turn when the unruly Herdman siblings, notorious for their mischief, decide to take part.
Initially, the community is apprehensive about the Herdmans' participation, anticipating chaos and disruption. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the Herdman children, despite their rough exterior, are yearning for acceptance and understanding.
The movie beautifully mirrors the message of Romans 13: 8-11. This passage calls us to focus on love as the ultimate commandment, urging us to embody the spirit of kindness, understanding, and compassion toward others. Just as the Apostle Paul encourages us to love our neighbors, the characters in the film learn to see past their prejudices and embrace the Herdmans with compassion. Through their involvement in the pageant, the Herdman siblings experience love and acceptance, leading to a transformation that touches the entire community.
This transformation is a testament to the power of love and understanding. It shows us that when we choose to love, we fulfill not just the law, but also the essence of our faith. The community's acceptance of the Herdmans echoes the call from Romans to love without conditions, to see beyond faults, and to nurture the goodness in everyone.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let us take a moment to reflect on the message of Romans 13: 8-11 and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." Let us strive to embody the spirit of love in our interactions, reaching out to those who may be different or misunderstood.
Let the love of Christ be our guiding light as we aim to fulfill the law through acts of kindness, compassion, and understanding. May we all be inspired to love more deeply and to extend that love to every corner of our community, and our world just as God has loved us.
In doing so, we not only honor the birth of Christ but also celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. This is true humility, this is Christmas.
Because of Bethlehem,
Pastor Tammy
Reflect: How does the movie, "The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever" remind you about how the church can sometimes forget its purpose of loving and reaching the lost. In our 730 Challenge we've read some scriptures recently that shows us how God so loves and is seeking to save all.
Spiritual Practice: Share the love and invite someone to our Candlelight Christmas Eve service. See how many BLESS cards you can give out in the next 2 days.
Gather: Discuss with your small group the barriers that sometimes stand in our way of expressing the true spirit of Christmas.
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