Christmas At The Movies - Week 4 - Day 5
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for your assurance of care and provision for us: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” I Peter 5:7, (NIV).
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the lord forever.”
“The lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
“Then Jesus came to them and said, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
REFLECT:
At the turn of the century cod fish were in much demand on the east coast. News of the tasty fish quickly spread across the country all the way to the west coast. There was, however, a problem. How could they get the cod fish across the country and keep it fresh? They tried to freeze the fish and send it by rail, the fastest means at the time. But when it was prepared it turned out to be very mushy and lacked flavor. Then someone decided to ship the fish live turning railroad cars into huge saltwater aquariums. When the cod fish arrived, they were alive but when they were prepared, they were still mushy and tasteless. After studying the cod fish, someone discovered that their natural enemy was the catfish. This time when the cod fish were put in the tanks, they placed a few catfish in with them. Those catfish chased the cod fish all the way across the country to the west coast. This time when the cod fish were prepared, they were flaky and had the same flavor as they did when they were caught fresh and prepared on the east coast. You see, the catfish kept the cod from becoming stale.
So often we are eager to have the attacks of the enemy, the devil, pushed back out of our lives by God. However, when we look back, we can often reflect on new spiritual strength we gain from these battles. You see, as Christians, our natural enemy is the devil. He comes to steal, kill and destroy: “The thief comes only to still and kill and destroy,” John 10:10a, (NIV). But Christ trumps the devil in part B of this verse: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” John 10:10b, (NIV). You realize your life is full when you have life in Christ. If life had no challenges, we would be soft and weak. In military training, you must undergo many simulations of battle and difficult circumstances in order to truly be “ready” for battle. As Christ does his work of transformation in us, we need this training in order to be used to help further his kingdom!
APPLY:
Look at your prayer life today. Are you asking God for a life of ease, devoid of adversity? Are you looking to Jesus to give you peace and be free from troubles? Do you expect life to give you joy 24 x 7 and not have to withstand any struggles? Nahum 1:7, (NIV) says “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” So, if we trust in him, perhaps our prayer life should be focused on the harvest. We should first and foremost pray for those who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and pray we could be used to share Christ with them. You see, the babe in the manger is our soon coming king! The message of Christmas is still the gift of Jesus Christ. He “is” the gift that keeps on giving and his saving power should be shared for all to experience. “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field,” Matthew 9:38, (NIV).
CLOSING PRAYER:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6, (NIV)