"Simplify" is one of my favorite words, especially during this overstuffed time of year. A shopping list and gift cards simplify shopping. Gift bags and those little cellophane tape dispensers for your wrist simplify wrapping gifts. Mrs. Smith and the Pillsbury Doughboy simplify baking and a calendar simplifies Christmas activities. If I'm not careful, I can simplify the whole experience down to a paragraph I write in my Christmas memory book. My intention isn't to smooth out the heart of Christmas but to simplify the frills so we have time to absorb the finer aspects of the amazingly complex heart of God, the Giver, and of Jesus, the Eternal Gift.
The Pharisees simplified their religion down to a set of complex rules that became duties and burdens. Believers today can do the same by checking off those little mental boxes of 1) attending, 2) inviting someone to church, 3) tithing, 4) studying our lessons, and 5) serving. God, however, is keeping the receipt on these gifts to exchange them for the one He really wants: a heart filled with love for Him, "an awakened soul that thrills to the Joy of My Presence" (Sarah Young's words). "Joy" isn't a duty we can check off a list, which frustrates the list-checkers among us who check them twice. Joy is the long surprise awaiting us when we learn to give God what He really wants.
Father, thank You that duty and obligation aren't on Your wish list. Thank You for being the God of our hearts, the Joy of our existence, the Peace we can't buy, the Pleasure of life. We're simple-minded and we often set aside or vacuum pack what our hearts can't grasp and our minds can't conceive. Lord, open our hearts and minds to receive all of You we can handle. Break into our ho-hum lives as You did for those giddy shepherds standing out in left field. Fill our hearts with the same exceedingly great joy with which You filled the magi's hearts when they saw the star. Equip us to ponder like Mary in response to the glory and majesty of Your Presence. Show us how to give You what You've asked for instead of giving You what costs us little. We want to love You with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our strength.
In the Name of Jesus the long-awaited, much predicted, surprise of the ages!
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," Colossians 3:23
"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11
Amen Sister, Amen!!!!!!!
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