Emotional Pain

Prince of Peace

Christmas At Compass 2022

Live Intentionally

In the darkest of days and through the toughest times, Jesus calls us to let our light shine. In a world full of hate, you can be a shining light.

Empty the Jar

When that sinful woman emptied her jar on Jesus’ feet, she embodied the true worship that He had come to find (John 4:23-24). To worship Him rightly, though, she needed to come to grips with the truth about herself. The Gospel is only Good News to those who’ve reckoned with the bad news of sin and death. The true beauty of Jesus is only visible to those who have seen the ugliness of their rebellion against God. Unlike Simon, the woman in this story knew she was unworthy to come into Jesus’ presence. Even so, Jesus didn’t just receive her gift; He affirmed it as an act of worship more precious to Him than whatever Simon may have laid out on his table. The same is true for us. In ourselves, we are unworthy to set foot in God’s throne room. Yet, in and through Christ, we’re invited to step boldly into the presence of our heavenly Father.

Grip the Plow

In this passage, Jesus doesn’t mince words about the radical demands of living faith. As He walks along the road (Luke 9:57), he addresses three potential followers. When the third wants to go and bid his family farewell, Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (vs. 61-62). These words are hard to hear, but they’re honest. Jesus says, if you’re with me, then you’re with me. There’s no lukewarm faith allowed here; there’s too much at stake to play it safe. Grip the plow, get your hands dirty in the fields, get to work, and don’t give up. It’s not hard to imagine why so many people wanted to follow Jesus and learn from Him. What is hard to grasp, though, is how hard He made it for them to come and follow: give up your house, skip your father’s funeral, leave home without saying goodbye. It may seem harsh, but Jesus knew the high cost was worth the reward. We are called to grip the plow with both hands and not look back. As a Church, we do not want to be content with simply attending a church; we want to engage in a community committed to working in the fields and completing the mission. A follower is not someone who attends; a follower is personally engaged.

Emotional Pain

We must learn the benefits of honest self-reflection, the importance of asking God to help us identify and break unhealthy cycles that stifle us, and our need for each other’s support to leave a healthy legacy of faith, goodness, and love.