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Nov 17, 2022 06:00am

Leftovers

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“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

Consumers. We are all guilty; some by necessity, but most by want. If we aren’t careful, we’re tempted to trample others for a Black Friday bargain the day after being thankful for the things we already possess. Hypocrisy? Perhaps, but when we find ourselves turning back our clocks an hour and our scales a few pounds to prepare for the ever-expanding waist dilemma of leftovers, it might be time to revisit our priorities. Lisa Bevere reminds us, “Don’t settle for the crumbs of comparison when God has invited you to His table.” That’s where grace begins…making Him known.

Waste…there’s a lot of it during the holidays. In an effort to “get things done” could we possibly be deceived into thinking it’s about an event instead of about a person…Jesus? We are called to freedom in the various expressions of a Christ-centered, others-focused lifestyle evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit attributes. This Fruit is akin to the Thanksgiving buffet lines we will feast upon in a matter of days. But unlike the overindulging of selective food groups, God is pleased when we don’t pick and choose, but exhibit all of Him. The fruit we are showcasing by our lives, actions, and attitudes don’t have to be “in season”. The Trinity is timeless and worthy of our full indulgence, not a menu from which we choose to order. Sure, leftovers are a normal part of the multiple blessings of fellowship, shared family moments, and holiday festivities, but they shouldn’t be how we define our relationship with God. Galatians chapter 5 illustrates that Christians aren’t to be fruit snobs, but to embrace the totality of the attitudes by choice and dependence on the Holy Spirit to indwell us and work through us. Personalities don’t give us a pass. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control aren’t flavors to choose from. Following salvation, they are all to be on display as we model the presence of Jesus, in our personal journey. Don’t give God your leftovers. Allow him to be The Feast you indulge in and come away eternally filled by His Spirit to the fullest! Make a paradigm shift this Thanksgiving. Make your feasting about all of His eternal attributes, not the leftovers of this earthy journey. And keep in mind, you are only one undercooked turkey away from being designated as the “soda” and “rolls” person for life.