We are living in “Ordinary” time.
This is the time between Christmas/Epiphany (6 January) and Ash Wednesday (21 February 2023), in the Christian calendar, which is called “ordinary” time.
The word comes from “ordinals,” but it brings to mind the words: common, familiar, and routine.
Many of us are thinking about our new year’s resolutions, trying to break out of the routine and the familiar to do something new or improve on (fix) something. We are trying to
move on from the ordinary ruts of our lives.
As Christians, we believe that God can and does make all things new through transformative love and redemption.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
And eventually, the world will become a healed and harmonious new creation.
And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new’” (Revelation 21:5)
While we remain hopeful, we need to be realistic that we live in a broken world
with broken people. The Apostle Paul encourages the problematic Corinthian
church,
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians1:4-7).
While Paul goes on to address the divisive issues within the
church, he starts off by saying, “You are enough because God is faithful.”
Yes, we have problems, and yes we are broken people. But we are enough.
We continue to work together, bringing each of our spiritual gifts together to reveal
to the world God’s transformative love and redemption in Jesus Christ.
We encourage ourselves and each other to do more because we do not want anyone
to miss out on the joy of God’s grace and peace, the joy of serving, the joy of worship, and the joy of being in the body of Christ. Joy is found in the presence of God on the journey.
As we walk together and work together towards making Jesus real to those around us, remember, you are not living an ordinary life but are extraordinarily blessed.
You are enough as the beloved of God.
Comments