Walking by faith

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

I’m working from the home office today getting prepared for Sunday morning. What can you say about the Christmas story that has not already been said? It’s a challenge for sure. We see such faith and obedience and commitment to the Lord in the lives of Joseph and Mary. How do we become like them? How does that happen?

Romans 12:1 tells us that God wants us to take our “everyday, ordinary lives - our sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.” That’s probably the path to a Mary and Joseph life, isn’t it?

My prayer every morning before my feet hit the floor while I’m nice and warm under the Orvis flannel sheets and the down comforter from Land’s End is that I would glorify God. That my day, my life, the things I do would bring glory, honor and praise to Abba Father.

I don’t know about your life but mine is filled with the mundane. I’ve never seen an angel that I know of, I have never walked on water and the crazy good Christmas story is just that crazy good, but it’s not my story.

My story starts at 6 a.m. under those flannel sheets and down comforter, then to the new West Elm glass dining room table for coffee (home brewed Cafe Du Monde) with the Blonde, prayer with her, shower, head to the home office, after a day in the salt mines I have dinner with the Blonde, run three or four miles on the treadmill, answer a few phone calls or emails, maybe watch a rerun of Andy Griffith and then off to bed (did I mention flannel sheets and a down comforter).

What I’m saying is I have to serve God in the mundane, ordinary life that He has given me. I bring Him glory as I live out my commitment to Him by being obedient to the small things He puts in front of me in my small town, rural life. Jesus told us to be faithful in little (Luke 16:10) and He said if we have small faith (like a mustard seed) it can grow into something great (Luke 17:5-6).

In practical terms it looks like being passionate about and committed to the Golden Rule, not complaining, looking after the interests of others, being kind, forgiving others, loving at all costs, blessing my enemies, walking by faith and not by sight, standing firm, being ready in season and out of season, being always ready to share why I have hope, letting my manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

Hard? Not really. Do I have to be intentional? Yes.

He told me to tell you that.