Recognizing Christ - Monday, December 28 (Advent 2020)

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
John 1:10

Early this year, I read Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. It states that it is possible, like a martial arts practitioner, to have your personal management situation totally under control, at all levels, and all times. This is great for efficiency, productivity, and time management. It provides a new relationship to our projects and work. 

But no man-made system can fix our biggest problem: how do we bridge the chasm we created between ourselves and God? 

People fruitlessly tried to do this by building the Tower of Babel. We continue to build systems and philosophies to connect to God. Notice the many denominations of churches as you drive through town.

Even those of us who know Him by His grace are prone to honor our own efforts. Some people may say, “I’ve been a Christian for forty years.” Unwittingly, they may have done the same thing over and over forty times. Jesus is cajoling us every day to recognize Him in our life. He needs for us to be different. 

He is calling us to grow, to change. Christmas is a time of new beginnings. Joy to the world! 

Help us, Lord, to receive you continuously, to hear your voice among the noise of the world and of our own internal monologue. We are only right if we are right with you. Set us apart from worldly concerns to pray and support your tender mercies towards Native Americans of all tribes. The world defines belief as a noun - convict us that it is a verb. If we don’t proclaim, who will? In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Galen Gritts
St. Louis, Missouri