IN THE COMMONPLACE

 

In Mark 6:1-6 we read about Jesus preaching in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth.  The members of the synagogue could not accept the fact that Jesus was giving them signs of God’s Kingdom because He himself came from this town   He was very familiar to them.  He was commonplace.  So, how could God be acting through Him?  Consequently, they rejected Jesus.  They failed to see that God’s action is indeed revealed in the commonplace.  He encountered people in their everyday situations – angry men, blind beggars, petty politicians, streetwalkers, uneducated fisherman and grieving parents.  Jesus was the epitome of relevance, and He still is.

 

Even though you didn’t read your own obituary in this morning’s newspaper, you may be feeling lifeless.  Deep within, you somehow know there is more to life than you are experiencing.  Deep within, you know there is something better, something more fulfilling.  Deep within, there is the hope of new life.  Wouldn’t it be fantastic to read in tomorrow’s paper that you’ve been born again to a new life.

 

You want to be happy?  Jesus tells us what true happiness is.  And maybe it’s not what we want to hear.  He says that happiness is about humility, and being pure in heart, and being meek, and relying on God’s Word on how to become a fulfilled person.  Happiness is about working for peace, and showing mercy to others, and having patience, understanding and empathy, compassion and caring.  Happiness is about loving others, unconditionally.

                       

Happiness is where the action is – God’s action.  And his action is revealed in the commonplace.  There in the commonplace, we can learn to heal our relationships.  There, in the commonplace, we can learn to practice forgiveness.  There, in the commonplace, we can learn that what we unconditionally give to others we simultaneously give to ourselves.  There, in the commonplace, we can learn that to give is to receive.  There, in the commonplace, we can learn to experience true happiness.

Yours in Christ, ΧΡ

Pastor Jim

 

Previous Pastor's Pages

• March, 2005
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