The Best Answer

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, ‘Of all the commandments which is the most important?” 'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is....'"—Mark 12:28

Sometimes, God can let a familiar passage from the Gospels in one setting come through the back door and grab us at our point of need in another setting. Who knew, for example, that the teacher of the law is a much-needed voice from the Nativity scene, along with the angels, shepherds, and cow moos? Because amidst all the growing noise from the to-do-to-buy-to-go lists running around in our heads every single holiday season, this guy’s voice needs to cut through the fog so loudly, that all the to-dos freeze in their tracks:

“OK, so what really matters?”

The teacher of the law had about 613 add-ons (of his own making) to 10 simple truths for living that God Himself had already laid out perfectly.  All these extras may have seemed really important, but reading between the lines, you wonder if maybe, just maybe, the teacher was desperately looking to get his bearings straight once more.

And to all of our 613 or so add-ons (many not of our own making) to the simplicity of the Nativity that seem unavoidable every holiday season, comes the Lord’s timely take on the same reply He gave to the teacher of the law. Lovingly, patiently, piercingly clear:

“I am in the midst of all your to-do lists...or, at least I want to be.

Because remember, I, not the add-ons, am the Main Thing.

You know this, but I know, life can get nuts.

So listen up once more, it’s pretty simple:

First, remember that even when things seem crazy and out of control

I AM Lord. Always was Lord, always will be Lord.

The in-control-of-it-all One.

In church, and out of church.

Especially out.

And in the midst of it all,

Come unto Me, all who are weary,

And I will get your bearings straight once more.

This is the way, walk in it:

Love Me with all you’ve got

Even if it doesn’t feel like much at the moment;

With all that makes you, well, you:

The way you think, respond, work, play, and talk

Because that’s how I built you

And remember, like Me,

Not just in church, but out of church.

Even at ________.

Take Me with you in all of that.

All of it.

Enjoy it. Yes. I said, have a blast.

Sure, life can be hard, but life in Me is always good and abundant.

And the best gift you can give Me

Is the gift of love you give to someone in need

Even if it is just a small gift of listening

Or moving some furniture.

Because you never know what might open the door

For Me to walk into their lives.

During the holidays, for sure.

But in the other 364 days, too.

And that, My friend, is not just a good answer,

It's the best answer of all."

(Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a 2015 of 'best answers')

Rethinking Life on Overload

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.—1 Thessalonians 4:1

And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

—1 Thessalonians 4:10

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”—1 Thessalonians 5:11

In the upside down Kingdom, it's good to know that “just one more thing” is not intended to add to anyone’s stack of daily responsibilities but to lighten it by getting our energies refocused. Instead, when life goes on overload, it’s good to fight through the mental "to-do" list traffic patterns to pause at the intersection of Chaos and Crazy, and remember that what really matters is pursuing simplicity even in the midst of it all:

• A daily life of God-honoring speech, thought, and deed

• Loving one another

• Encouraging one another

More than any earthly achievement, no matter how noble, these are the "to-do"s that can change lives (ours and others around us) and bring light to dark places.

Oh yeah, just one more thing: Don't forget to hand over the keys…

“May the God of peace himself make you entirely pure and devoted to God; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept strong and blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again. God, who called you to become his child, will do all this for you, just as he promised." —1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Hope in a Hard Place

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you…because I have many people in this city.”—Acts 18:9-10

From one hard place to another—Athens, and then Corinth—no one would blame the Apostle Paul for wanting an easier, more receptive assignment. And though he doesn’t say so in so many words, we can only guess that “get me out of here!” was on his mind by this “do not quit” exhortation from the Lord Himself.

Sometimes, like Paul, we may think, “why on earth did God put me here in this corner of the world?” When it’s a hard place, and everything you believe and live for seems to stand no chance against the wave of prevailing opinion, the temptation is strong to escape to someplace sunny and warm—or worse, to just keep quiet.

But this little passage is encouragement to stay graciously faithful in both word and deed wherever we are, because as Paul found out in two of the most difficult places any of us will ever encounter, “hopeless” and “what’s the point?” are never part of God’s equation. To wit, "Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized."

Even in the hardest soil, hope grows. It's good to know that He hasn't given up on anyplace, that He always, always has "many people in this city" who will be curious about what makes us tick, and receptive to our reason for living...and perhaps more importantly, there will be those in every hard place in the world who have been desperately waiting and literally dying for someone, anyone to bring them some Good News.

The words of Mordecai to Esther still ring true:

“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”