Jesus is Our Anchor

Scriptural Foundation:
John 1:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Reflection:
The success of any healthy lifestyle change begins with what you consume. A daily choice must be made between eating fresh products or substitute in packaged/preservative filled food. It is a lot more convenient to pick from a stack of take out menus than to cook something every night after a long day. And that is only one area of life! We are living in an age like never before…we are consuming things through our eye-gates and ear-gates at a faster rate of speed and sometimes going through a full range of emotions in the space of an hour. Our lives are so cluttered with activities, at times it feels like a check list rather than experiencing life.

It is in this place, even among Believers we hear these words uttered, “I don’t feel like I am Christian enough.” Have you heard someone say this or you have even said this yourself?

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:1

So, what happened?

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. – Revelations 2:2-4

Anyone will tell you that they would prefer spending time with the one they love more than any gift in the world. That becomes even more bitter-sweet when a loved one has passed on into glory. God’s love for us has always been the same. He has never been looking for perfection. Jesus took care of that for us. Our Heavenly Father wants to spend time with us. He prepares fresh mana for us each day so that we can go out and win the lost to Christ and encourage our fellow prayer warriors in Him. With the Lord, it has never been about the presentation of one’s life, but the actual Word being lived out through our lives.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek forgiveness].” Mark 2:17 (AMP)

Individually we can get so caught up with making our lives look perfect – air brushing our sins away – adding and re-moving individuals/situations that seem to make our picture seem messy and cluttered. That should not be our objective. It is when we get so caught up with playing the part of a Christian that we lose the true meaning and impact that the Lord would have us make in the hearts, minds, and lives of others. Packaged Christians don’t grow their harvest, but just maintain what they have. We see in the Gospel of Matthew what the servant with the one talent did:

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. – Matthew 25:24-25

The Lord on the other hand wants to bless us abundantly.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
– Ephesians 3:20-21

I challenge all of us this year to dare to take off our concealers and become real with one another in Love (1 John 4:8) for betterment of the Kingdom. Your imperfections are the things that will draw people closer to Christ in your life, through your life. Whether it is a non-believer or a Believer that has fallen by the wayside. The less packaged Christianity there is out there, the more God’s anointing and glory can flow through each of us and the faster Jesus can come back to take us all into true glory! Beloved, do your part and actively chose fresh faith over packaged perfection!

Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
o Are there situations that you have not seen to completion because it didn’t fit into your personal agenda?
o Are there individuals that the Lord have placed in your heart that are too much at times to deal with? Do they disrupt your well-structured routine?
o Do you feel like you need to be in control of all things you in your life or your children’s life, and if something is not turning out the way you desire, do you either remove yourself from the situation too soon or stay to long?
o Do you lead a life of fresh faith or package perfection?