On Sunday we remember Jesus. His love and grace renews us. The sins of Saturday are gone, forgotten, and forgiven. On Sunday we are rejuvenated and prepare to face a new week alive again because of Christ's sacrifice. Songs of love and victory fill our hearts and minds. Sunday reawakens us to an exhilarating state of forgiveness, and we welcome another Monday. We dare another Monday to drag us down. We defy Monday to bring us to our knees because we are forgiven and loved. We are Spirit-filled and holy. We are loving, Christ-focused, and joyous to be believers...on Sunday.
Monday greets us with cloud covered skies and a grumpy five-year-old that ate the last of the Cheerios out of a dirty bowl after spilling milk all over the new carpet. Our first precious sip of coffee now resides on our only clean pair of work pants, and the dog decides to use our new shoes for a chew toy. By mid-morning we are considering at what age the elderly should not be allowed to drive because, after-all, if it was not for that ninety-year-old we would be at work by now. At lunch, despair hits when we hear of another co-worker losing their job. We wonder if we are next and if we will ever be able to pay off the car loan. We sit in angry isolation in a line of traffic after we cut off a guy in a jeep who quickly offers an obscene gesture to show appreciation. Dinner does not even make it to the table, as half the family is somewhere else; dance lessons, ball practice, or late meetings. We scarf down too much spaghetti sometime during the evening news and watch as across the world another one-hundred people die due to war or a natural disaster. We wonder where God exists in death and suffering as we look around our empty house and feel the desperation of loneliness. As we climb into our warm bed and experience silence, the stress of the day weighs heavy in our minds, and it is hard to even muster the energy to word a prayer...on Monday.
On Sunday, Christianity is easy. On Sunday, we make one of two choices, to fill our spiritual tanks to make through the next week or to play the social club game of “I’m alright, you’re alright”. Either way, Sunday is a breeze.
All too soon on Monday, life gets in the way and the ease of Christianity is long gone. Monday has a tendency to rot every fruit of the spirit we learned about the day before. Monday brings us back down to earth.
Monday does not change the Savior.
Tuesday’s crises does not alter God’s plan for you.
Wednesday’s hectic schedule does not make Jesus less important.
Thursday’s round of lay-offs does not deplete our Provider.
Friday’s loneliness never leaves you unloved by your Creator.
Saturday’s mistakes will not ever stop His forgiveness.
Let me suggest that if there is only room for spirituality on Sunday, you are not experiencing Christianity at all. Christianity is not a weekend past time and is not a social club. Christianity is faith in times of trouble, and kindness where it’s not deserved. Christianity is friendship with those outside of your comfort zone. Christianity is a daily task, a never-ending occupation. It is not for the faint-hearted or for the easily swayed, because Monday comes to destroy all memories of Sunday. If Christianity is nothing more to you than an hour of social time on Sunday, then Monday will do it's job quite successfully.
Monday will come. It will bring terrors. The best of us will introduce Sunday to Monday and have a better week because of it.
Monday greets us with cloud covered skies and a grumpy five-year-old that ate the last of the Cheerios out of a dirty bowl after spilling milk all over the new carpet. Our first precious sip of coffee now resides on our only clean pair of work pants, and the dog decides to use our new shoes for a chew toy. By mid-morning we are considering at what age the elderly should not be allowed to drive because, after-all, if it was not for that ninety-year-old we would be at work by now. At lunch, despair hits when we hear of another co-worker losing their job. We wonder if we are next and if we will ever be able to pay off the car loan. We sit in angry isolation in a line of traffic after we cut off a guy in a jeep who quickly offers an obscene gesture to show appreciation. Dinner does not even make it to the table, as half the family is somewhere else; dance lessons, ball practice, or late meetings. We scarf down too much spaghetti sometime during the evening news and watch as across the world another one-hundred people die due to war or a natural disaster. We wonder where God exists in death and suffering as we look around our empty house and feel the desperation of loneliness. As we climb into our warm bed and experience silence, the stress of the day weighs heavy in our minds, and it is hard to even muster the energy to word a prayer...on Monday.
On Sunday, Christianity is easy. On Sunday, we make one of two choices, to fill our spiritual tanks to make through the next week or to play the social club game of “I’m alright, you’re alright”. Either way, Sunday is a breeze.
All too soon on Monday, life gets in the way and the ease of Christianity is long gone. Monday has a tendency to rot every fruit of the spirit we learned about the day before. Monday brings us back down to earth.
Monday does not change the Savior.
Tuesday’s crises does not alter God’s plan for you.
Wednesday’s hectic schedule does not make Jesus less important.
Thursday’s round of lay-offs does not deplete our Provider.
Friday’s loneliness never leaves you unloved by your Creator.
Saturday’s mistakes will not ever stop His forgiveness.
Let me suggest that if there is only room for spirituality on Sunday, you are not experiencing Christianity at all. Christianity is not a weekend past time and is not a social club. Christianity is faith in times of trouble, and kindness where it’s not deserved. Christianity is friendship with those outside of your comfort zone. Christianity is a daily task, a never-ending occupation. It is not for the faint-hearted or for the easily swayed, because Monday comes to destroy all memories of Sunday. If Christianity is nothing more to you than an hour of social time on Sunday, then Monday will do it's job quite successfully.
Monday will come. It will bring terrors. The best of us will introduce Sunday to Monday and have a better week because of it.
Someone paid close attention during the lesson this morning :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both Larry's thoughts and yours!
Preach it, sista!
ReplyDelete