2022_12_19 Insight Post- Kim Feld

As I head toward Christmas every year, I desire to keep things in perspective. I want to focus on the real meaning of the season. Still, time after time, I get caught up in an overly full calendar of events and endless to-do lists that rob me of my joy and focus. I was reminded of this yet again as I read Philippians 1.

In Philippians 1:10, Paul says, “For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” This verse continues a thought from verse 9 which says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” According to Paul, love and growth in knowledge and understanding of our faith in Jesus is what helps us discern what really matters. Let’s look at this passage, including verse 11 from the New Living Translation:

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. 

Please understand that this is not an indictment against the presents or parties. But, for me, it is a call to release myself from the “do more” mentality. Instead, I want to focus on what has “been done” and how I can reflect that in my life. What really matters is that Jesus came in the most unlikely way to save me.

Love was not overflowing more and more from me today as I struggled to get packages into the post office to mail. I’m pretty sure the fruit of my salvation was not evident as I stood in a very, very long line. And now, as I read these verses, I’m convicted that I missed an opportunity to bring glory and praise to God by being joyful instead of joining in the frustration around me.

As we head into this final week before Christmas, let’s make a commitment to focus on what really matters and let some of this other stuff go. How can we love better this week? Who can we share the gift of time with? Our words and actions toward each other will be far more lasting than gifts wrapped in shiny paper. Let’s take advantage of the opportunities we are presented with this week.

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach