It’s that time of year when I get all kinds of text messages, and I see all kinds of commercials telling me who I should vote for. Lately, I’ve noticed that the candidates run their ads back to back on television. And, more often than not, they are telling me what’s bad about the other candidate as opposed to telling me what’s good about their candidacy.
I recently was in a discussion with another pastor about baptism. We emphasize baptism here at KCC because everywhere in the book of Acts, when someone surrenders to Jesus, they are baptized. However, sometimes we talk about it as a duty and responsibility as opposed to the beauty that’s involved in being baptized.When we are baptized, our sins are washed away because of the beautiful love God has for us. When we are baptized, we unite with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection; another beautiful picture.
I also think we talk about Christianity as a duty to others when we are trying to share our faith. “You need to accept Jesus so you don’t go to Hell.” When, perhaps, we should focus on the beautiful life God wants us to live when we surrender to Jesus. How much more beautiful is a life of loving God and loving others than a life lived selfishly and stepping on others to get ahead?
Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.”
I tend to gravitate toward people who are joyful and exude a beauty that comes from enjoying life and finding the good in things and people. I also gravitate toward candidates who talk about the great things ahead versus the awful things of the past.
May you and I focus and relay to others the beautiful message and life of the Gospel. And may we not focus our time and energy on what’s wrong, but fix our eyes on what is right and good and holy. And that is all things Jesus!