Thursday Thoughts (November 10, 2016)

Well it is Thursday after election day and things are the same as usual. Some folks are happy, some angry, some are in fear, some are hopeful, some are doubtful, and some just want to know what is for dinner. I am not really sure what I think about all of that right now. I am mainly in a watch and see mode. My hope has never been in political leaders, so there is little they can do to disappoint me and they would have to do something spectacular to wow me.

I started thinking about who I am. I live on the third planet from the Sun, so I am first and foremost and earthling. I have a piece of paper that says I was born in North America so I am a north American. I have birth certificate that says I was born in the United States so I am …American (that’s odd, I am not United Statesian). I have a driver’s license that says I am a resident of Michigan, so I am a Michigander? Michiganian?, well whatever. My last name is Jolly so I am Jolly. But I have nothing that declares I am a Christian. I could wear a cross, but many people wear those. I can show my membership certificate for the Church of the Nazarene, but that isn’t really a proof of who I am. I can say I am a Christian; however, anyone can say that.

How will people know that I am Christian? Oh, by my love. (That is biblical you know). How fascinating! We usually define ourselves by location (in part). But our connection to Christ is visible, not in location, but in our ousia (nature) through action. People will know us by our nature of love expressed in action. The kind of Love that is only found in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul tells us what love looks like in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Of course, we could look at Jesus’ life and see how it is lived out.

Today, I am reminded of the contrast between what we see in our world and what Jesus reveals. What I am in Christ now defines, for me, what I am in all those other areas. Today, I hope that the Love of Jesus is defining me. I hope that it is what motivates how I treat my friends and those who see me as an enemy. Perhaps, today is a day for believers to remember their first love. Not who he is, but what we are because we are Christian.

Lord, help me to be filled with your Holy Spirit so that I might be Love’s expression in Michigan, the United States, North America, on planet Earth.