Naughty or Nice

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Naughty or Nice

December 25, 2016 • Jumaine Jones

We’ve all been taught that Santa is making a list, checking it twice, and so that we can find out who’s naughty or nice. If you’re naughty, you won’t receive gifts. If you are nice, we will receive gifts. This similarly describes our views and expectations of God. If we are good, He will give us the things we desire. If we are not good, then we won’t get the things we desire. What do we do when our goodness doesn’t move God to grant us our request? What happens when we ask God for something only to receive silence from heaven? In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the apostle Paul, who was faithful to God, asked God to remove a “thorn in his flesh.” Even though He asked three times, God did not remove the thorn. Paul discovered that God’s gift wasn’t in granting his request, but in God’s “no.” He discovered that God’s grace was sufficient for Him in time of weakness.

Making A List

December 18, 2016 • Jumaine Jones

We often treat Jesus like Santa Clause. As children, we often had a list of things we desired to receive for Christmas. We waited in hopes that Santa Clause would give us those gifts. If the truth be told, our parents were our Santa Clause! In life, there are things that we desire. Instead of asking Santa Clause, we ask Jesus in hopes that He will grant us the things we desire. Although we are free to make petitions before the Lord, our relationship with God can become like a child’s relationship with Santa Clause: request driven. The reality is God already knows what we desire. He’s able to provide anything that we need or want. God doesn’t want our relationship with Him to be based on a list of request, but intimate devotion through prayer.