What Happens When You Show Up

Beloved,

We are exactly one week away from Christmas. We have had an awesome weekend of celebration of 75 years of God leading and guiding Zion Memorial as a church family. We are blessed. Now, we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

When Jesus showed up, even beforehand, everything began to change. The world changed. People changed. History changed. Love changed. Hope changed. Expectations changed.

When Jesus showed up, everything changed.

Now, change can be a painful thing for those who have grown comfortable with things staying the same; but, if we are to be Christ-like, if when He showed up, things changed, then when we show up, things should also change...for the better.

You see, as Jesus was fully human and fully divine, God as well as man, you have divinity within you although you are not fully divine. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the redeemed believer means that wherever you go, God goes with you. So, when you show up, things are supposed to change...for the better.

Now, change for the better is not immediate. It can be excruciatingly painful and slow; but, it is worth it.

The Apostle Paul and Silas faced great opposition and those who followed them in pursuing Christ also faced opposition and persecution.

Why? Because they represented change, necessary change but change nonetheless.

In Thessalonica, Acts 17:6 reveals how some felt about the change, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also."

Changed had shown up and some people did not like it; but, they could not stop the change that had shown up.

Beloved, everyone is not going to like the Christ inside of you; but, you should never let them turn you around. Believe it or not, the change they are fighting against is the change that they actually need. So, instead of fighting against them as they fight against you, fight for them to be the best that they can be.

Jesus fought for us in that way on the cross.

The Christmas season is a great time to remember that Jesus did not simply come to save the world. Jesus came to change the world and, since He came, everything has changed.

Beloved, what happens when you show up?

I hope and pray that you will let the Jesus who is inside of you show up whenever you arrive. The world is watching. The world is waiting. The world is needing to see and meet the Jesus inside of you.

Lord willing, my next email will be on Christmas Day. If God allows, I am going to send it with great love and affection for you. We will celebrate the day that we set aside to commemorate when Jesus showed up.

But, why wait? May every day be a day that you celebrate Jesus' arrival and may you celebrate the moments when you show up too with Jesus in your mind, heart and spirit.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain