Paying attention to myself by presenting myself with some sweet birthday wishes isn’t what I normally do. However, because my body and soul need to feel happy and loved today, of all days, I decided to wish myself a happy birthday, hoping that I might want to celebrate my born day.
Believers in Christ know that the moment the Vine no longer abides in them and they no longer abide in the Vine is when they also no longer can be fruitful Vineyard workers. That is why the Vine and Vineyard motivate Christ followers to continue to stay present in the Vine and the Vineyard—to continue to remain connected to the Vine and Vineyard—because they are these believers’ sources for love and joy.
We were not created just to become believers in Christ Jesus, and we were not created just so we can get into Heaven. We also were not created just to preach the Gospel—to evangelize and disciple the whole world. Then too, we never were created just so that we can live comfortable lives—have comfortable jobs, comfortable paychecks (or comfortable bank accounts/savings), comfortable homes, comfortable friends, and/or comfortable churches or ministries. First and foremost, God has created human beings for His Glory. His Glory is the beauty and excellence of His diverse holiness or countless perfections. His Glory also is the revelation and manifestation of His Character or all that He has and all that He is.
Changing the world is the end result that the pay it forward social movement hopes to achieve through numerous acts of kindness. This goal is praiseworthy. However, it is ironic that a social movement’s occasional acts of kindness, often done by non-Christians and/or done for selfish reasons like, for example, ratings or viewership, can draw more attention, get more publicity, than the good works that the Body of Christ does on a daily basis.
Expressions of THANKSGIVING should be communicated to God, and to one another, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. AMEN!
