So, a few days ago, some celebrated math, or something like it, with Pi day on 3-14. Its mostly a reason for people to post pictures of Pies, to bake and/or eat a pie, or just to make some nerdy 3.141592653589793238…comment. I am also aware that next Monday, March 21 is World Down Syndrome day, as I have had the pleasure to know and work with many great individuals in this category, who have three (instead of two) of chromosome 21 (3-21) in their DNA. Someone also posted that March 16 was Stone Cold Steve Austin day (3:16), which I didn’t really celebrate. That reminded me of John 3:16, so I looked it up and sure enough, John 3:16 is celebrated by many today as well! It doesn’t take much to find a reason to celebrate something most any day, if you try hard enough, even though you may be the only one locally doing so. Even if you are not Irish, someone may still try to pinch you for not wearing green on St. Patrick’s day. What celebrations do you look forward to and which do you try to downplay or avoid, and why?
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2
I’m not really a huge fan of musicals, but some I have seen and said…’that was pretty decent, for a musical’. One that still resonates in my brain from time to time is The Fiddler on the Roof, which is the story of a Russian Jewish village in the early 1900’s. The main narrator Tevye talks and sings about the Traditions that he and his neighbors celebrate. You don’t have to look far to find similar secular or faith based traditions in our own culture today, from sabbath laws, to weekend football, birthdays, Christmas celebrations, Halloween and everything in between. How did you decide how you would celebrate in your own family as you grew up?
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:19-20
Even within the variety of faith traditions, you can often tell what faith, or denomination someone is practicing just by watching them for a minute or two in their time of worship. Have you ever questioned or changed the way you do something in your faith practice? What led you to change? Often we may feel compelled to add or delete something from our lives as a result of how others around us are practicing, or just as prompting from God in our own hearts. Our public lives of worship are often dedicated by our families and what churches or places of worship/meeting are available to us. Our private lives of prayer and study are often more led by how God is speaking to us individually, and these things often have an impact on one another. Who taught or showed you how to worship the way you do? May you continue to grow in your faith as Christ and His Spirit refine your worship and traditions!
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23
Yours in Christ,
Clark
