The end of the Christian year brings a sense of anticipation for the coming of Christ, in more ways than one. To understand Christmas, the gifting of Jesus Christ to humanity, is coupled with understanding the return of Christ in glory at the end times. It is not something to fear or be concerned about, but to be celebrated as the revealing of a great truth. An assurance that someone capable is coming in response to the issues we face now.

Remember and celebrating the Saints of God has a particular weariness among Protestant Christians, due to some holdover beliefs from another time. But honoring the lives of the faithful is an invaluable gift to us learning to live the faith today, and provides opportunity to witness divine love and grace like we never could on our own.

Many have a notion that the historical events of the Reformation were a desire to have the Church progress and move toward something new and exciting. But the man, Martin Luther, never intended to split the Church and divide Christians among Protestants and Catholics. Rather, it was the desire to have the Church return to something, be reminded of its purpose and calling, and understand how God was choosing to move among his people.

The Church should never worry about if the work it is doing is having an impact on the world. Sometimes the world might see us with indifference, or ignore us altogether. So what should Christians be oriented toward in the midst of that attitude, to ensure the Gospel message is still communicated?

The Church is always at work to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, and to represent the will of God. But everyone thinks they know the most effect jobs for that task. How should the Church view its work, and to what end should it be pursued by its members?

“God never gives us more than we can handle” is a phrase we offer to people who are hurt or struggling. We offer it out of good intentions, but what if it does more harm than good? To the one struggling, everything seems like it is more than what they can handle. So how does God demonstrate his care during those struggling times, and transition us to a place where we can confidently stand- in spite of the situations we face?

We all may have heard at one time that we must forgive others who wrong us. The Christian faith expounds the idea of forgiveness, but is it applied in the proper manner? Many have misunderstood it to mean just accepting the faults and wrongdoing of others as “no big deal.” But that mentality has hurt many in the world, and within the Church. So how does the teaching of Jesus allow us to live it, and demonstrate a new way for those facing powerlessness in the world?

In living out the calling and willfulness God has bestowed within us, we confront a world with powers and authorities who are at odds with our way of living. Yet God has placed those in charge of bringing order to the world, even when it seems that order acts against the people of God. How are we to respond to such a conundrum? Perhaps instead of trying to always buck the authority we do not like, we use it as a means to determine who is more worthy of our attention.

A willing heart is a sign that God has touched us and made us a part of his own. But willingness is also a preparation God uses to further cement his ways into us. When we are drawn to the pure love, grace, and holiness of God, it is revealed everything that is out of step with him. Thus, it is shown how big and capable our hearts are to love and demonstrate that divine identity to the rest of the world. When we follow Jesus, and agree to take God’s identity to those we know, we are shown our true ability to serve.

A willing heart is what marks a person as part of God’s people, and is a sign of a faith that does not come from human origins. Willingness is what allows Christians to understand all that Jesus does, pursue the things the world is against, and see God as more worthy to gain than anything else. We willingly give of ourselves, “sacrifice” ourselves before God as an act of true worship, in order to gain more than he have ever hoped for.

The act of ‘labeling’ others is destructive to society and how it operates. It is also destructive to the Church, falsely claiming to know who are the ‘true’ and ‘false’ Christians. But human values and assumptions do not make people a part, or separate, from the holy assembly and promises of the divine. And it is that power which can change, teach, and guide us in how to truly be part of the Church and be what God desires for his world.

Many assume there is a “letter and spirit” to the laws and rules which govern our lives. Different ways to interpret what it means to live and be at peace with one another. Arguments could be made as to which is better, but the greater issue is how we ignore what those laws teach and guide us toward in the first place. Which is a better way to live and see the world, or are they both necessary to guide us toward something more ideal?

The blessings, and gifts, of God are necessary in our lives. They are what reminds us of God’s protective rule over us, and proactive guidance for what we are accomplishing. We depend upon them for all we need, and sometimes want. But are God’s blessings, his interventions, just for what we want? Are they only gifted to those who have faith and ask for them? Or, are they for a purpose beyond just demonstrating our specialness in front of others?

In many of his parables, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the “Kingdom of God.” We might think Jesus is being symbolic or spiritual about what he describes, but it is much more literal than we care to admit. How often who we relegate God’s Kingdom, or God’s rule, to a mere suggestion in our lives? How often do we overlook how sovereign God is, and can be, in all our situations? Especially as we live in a world filled with deception and an inability to care for our most pressing needs?

We live in a world that is increasingly under tension, between various powers wishing to rule us and within ourselves. We constantly label things as “good” and “evil” based on preference and what we believe to be right. But the parables of Jesus teach us how to recognize the difference, and how to live within the tension for the sake of those needing God’s rule. The key word for Christians living today is “patience.”

People are motivated by all sorts of different things, which make it difficult to connect and correct the actions and ideas of others. The Church believes its job is to change the hearts and minds of people, and correct their actions- which is only partially correct. We must take our cue from Jesus, in how he appealed to and taught others. And the results he expected to come about through the giving of his wisdom.

Christians are very good with wanting to do all they can for God. They try so hard in doing everything they can with proclaiming the teachings of Jesus, and to resist the power of sin and evil in the world. But oftentimes ignore the command of Jesus to come and take his yoke upon us, and rest with him. What does “rest” look like in this instance, and what does this offer of Jesus do to aid us living for God in our everyday lives?

Why are Christians instructed to do good in the world as disciples? For money or success? Fame or celebrity? For power and an easy life? Or because God offers a greater purpose by which to live, and a greater confidence by which to live by? To know the kingdom of God is close at hand, and the presence of God in our world is undeniable.

The calling we get from God to deliver his Gospel to the world is an honor. But it is an honor which puts us at odds with the rest of the world, and even what we value. Being his ministers and ambassadors mean that our beliefs and values do not have a place anywhere, since our loyalty and allegiance is with a Savior not of this world. However, God does use every opportunity in life to allow us ability to speak for and represent him. Even if the circumstances and conditions are unfavorable, and even hated by us, it is the opportunity God trusts us with all the more to speak his prophetic voice.

Our society obsesses over the idea of work, and sometimes assigns value and worth to each person’s ability (or lack thereof). But Jesus speaks about what he expects his workers to accomplish, and what the Spirit enables them to accomplish. All efforts of Christ’s disciples contribute to the wider goal of harvesting for God in the world, and sometimes requires a keener eye on what is most important.