The Violence of Victory in 2010
January 7, 2010
The New Year is often seen as a time for fresh beginnings, redirection, accomplishment, and renewed hope and optimism. With those objectives in mind, my prayer is that you have several “violent victories” in 2010. Specifically…
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May your pockets become magnets for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline, and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you so hard you cry tears of joy.
May problems and sorrow vacate your home address.
And most importantly . . .
May devotion to Jesus, obedience to his word, participation in his church, and zeal for all things Christian consume you with unquenchable passion and energy. May you be longingly and forcefully committed to the accomplishment of the mission, goals, and purpose of the Church of Christ.
We want the “violent victories” of the first seven instances — let the good times roll! But as people of faith, we must also want the violent victory of the eighth. Why? Because that victory has implications not only for this life, but also for the one to come (1 Tim. 4:8). It helps us to determine and define our objective and reason for being on this planet (Eccl. 12:13; Matt. 6:33). And it serves, by God’s grace, toward the creation of transformed lives. Those lives will, in turn, transform communities (Rom. 12:2; Gal. 5:9). The question is, are you ready for the violence of victory in 2010? –JLNJR (Resource: Internet forward, 12/09)
