Reflections: “That’s Not Very Christian Of You.”

Someone said this to me yesterday. To be honest, I was a bit shocked. I wasn’t sure how to respond, and in my heart my first thought was, “That’s really harsh.” I felt like if someone wanted to attack me where it really hurt, that’s something they would say. I felt defensive, and even like that was a below-the-belt comment.

However, upon further reflection, I don’t believe that comment was unmerited. Perhaps it was said in jest as I would consider us to be friends, but even such an offhand comment comes from a deeper place, so at the very least I should conclude that I must have inadvertently hurt them.

The background is that I joked that a male celebrity/public figure looked “…different” in a recent photo. As in, he clearly had put on some weight, and as a result was accused of fat-shaming. Initially my thoughts were that, could I not even make such an observation without being shamed for the comment? The last time I saw a photo of him, he looked significantly slimmer.

However, my joke clearly did not come from a place of love, and even if I wished to argue that I was worried for his health, that isn’t really the thought that I had. To be fair, a major part of me was just thinking that he must have been eating really well, so good for him. Heck, I was even a little envious that he had the means to just jet off to any country and eat the best of foods at any given time.

But I can see how the circumstances under which I said it, coupled with the arguably judgemental tone I said it in, were all inappropriate and should have been kept to myself. In fact, I shouldn’t have thought like that in the first place. Shortly after, I apologised in a way that I hope came across sincerely. But today I am taking the time today to reflect on myself, my words and actions.

“That’s not very Christian of you” – this stung and cut me deeply. However, she’s not wrong.

Christian means to be “like Christ”. Have I been acting very Christian lately? Have I been thinking very Christian lately? I know that God will use whomever He pleases to convict me, why shouldn’t this be an act of His, working along with the Spirit to remind me of who I am/ought to be? I have sinned. It is appropriate for me to ask God, too, for forgiveness.

I have been toiling unto God’s Kingdom, but have I been reflecting Christ in my words and actions? How’s my relationship with Christ these days? How much devotional time have I had? Yes, I have done Bible reading. Yes, I have prayed. Yes, I have had plenty of Bible study. But if I consider how much quiet time I have had, it’s not nearly enough.

So let me make that a priority again, so that my heart can be in the right place. I thank God for His unconditional grace, endless mercy and forgiveness through Jesus. I thank God that He doesn’t count my sins against me, but, in love, sanctifies me to grow.

Because of Jesus, I am a sinner saved by grace. Because of Jesus, my unrighteousness is accounted to him, and his righteousness is counted to me. Because of Jesus, I am unashamed. But unashamed does not and should not mean unapologetic.

“That’s not very Christian of you” is a wake-up call. Wake up, Christian, and start being Christ-ian.

SDG,

Crystina

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas, everyone! Jesus Christ is born! What a joyous, momentous occasion that God would love the world in this way: that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:13-14, ESV

Jesus came to bring peace to men on earth. It’s been a pretty un-peaceful year for so many people this year. I pray that this would be an opportunity for anyone who is lacking peace in their hearts to turn their hearts towards Him who is able to not only give them eternal peace, but also eternal love and life.

I have to admit this year has been a bit strange for me. Basically not leaving the house for the majority of this year has meant seasons have passed and all I’ve experienced is the warming and cooling of the inside of my apartment. It hasn’t felt very Christmassy, I haven’t really seen lights or even been bothered with decorations for the apt. But God has been gracious to me this year – I am translating for our church’s Christmas Eve Chinese/English service and it’s given me time to reflect.

Thanks to Jesus, I am at peace. The world may be experiencing turbulence, but I believe my God is sovereign. Nothing that’s happened so far this year has surprised Him, and with my future in His hands, there is nothing for me to worry about. If you haven’t yet received the love of Christ and are interested to know more, please let this Christmas be the year you give it a shot.

If you’re interested, please feel free to join in our live service starting at 8pm PT here. Otherwise, I think the link can still take you to the service if you want to check it out later. Please let me know if you do.

May God’s peace and blessings be upon you and your family. Merry Christmas!

SDG,

Crystina

30 Days of Devo Challenge: Day 30

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Today is technically the last day of the challenge I gave myself. In total, including this one, it would have been 12 out of 30 days that I posted. From a grading perspective, that would be a fail. But thankfully, my salvation is not determined on whether or not I pass or fail a self-imposed devo writing challenge.

Thankfully, God’s love for me is not weakened by my lack of self-discipline or public devotionals. Thankfully, my relationship with my Creator is not dependent on anything I do at all.

Thankfully, Jesus has already accomplished it all on the cross by dying for my sins and rising from the dead so that I may no longer be dead in my transgressions but have eternal life by believing in Him. And He has given me the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantor of this inheritance.

I really enjoyed this challenge actually, and I really enjoyed writing devos on here every now and again. I think a daily one might be a little too much for me, but I would like to continue to write regular devotionals if possible. There’s so much to give thanks for, so much to praise Him for. I would like to write about it given the opportunity.

Heavenly Father,

You are such an awesome God. I am so grateful that no part of my sin can ever tear me away from Your love. I am so thankful for Your Son, Jesus, who bore my sin and shame on the cross, and died the death that I deserved, and suffered Your wrath that should have been for me. I thank You that through Jesus, I now am not only spared from death, but I have a restored relationship with You – God, in three Persons – and eternal life, sealed by Your Spirit dwelling in me. This is a gift – Your grace – freely given, and there is nothing I can do to ever deserve this.

Thank You that no matter what happens in life, I can be safe and secure in this knowledge of this. I know my identity is in You, my life is in Your hands, and all things are under Your control – please take control, Lord. I pray that I may live my life in a way that is glorifying to You.

May You and You alone be glorified.

Soli Deo gloria,

Crystina

30 Days of Devo Challenge: Day 26

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Heavenly Father,

There is much to be giving thanks for today: thank You for my husband, thank You for my family, thank You for my friends, that You that we are still safe and healthy, thank You for life, thank You for warmth, thank You food, thank You for shelter. Thank You for every good thing that is in my life.

Today Jacky and I cooked a thanksgiving meal together – for me, it was the first thanksgiving meal I’ve made in my life. It tasted incredible. Thank You for that, too.

Most of all, thank You for You. Thank You for being my God. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for my sins that I might have a renewed and reconciled relationship with You. Thank You that Jesus not only died, but rose again on the 3rd day, that through His life I might also have eternal life.

Thank You that through the indwelling of Your Spirit I have been brought into Your family and am able to enjoy eternal fellowship with the Godhead. Thank You that You have loved me with an everlasting love and chosen me to bring out of darkness and into eternal light. You are awesome, God.

May You and You alone be glorified.

Soli Deo gloria,

Crystina

30 Days of Devo Challenge: Day 25

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The main thing about not posting here in such a long time is that… man, all those distractions. It’s amazing how an entire day can pass and yet all the majority of items on my to-do list are not ticked off. Over the past few months it’s become increasingly clear that I seem to enjoy bursts of productivity rather than a continuous flow of disciplined work.

I will leave many things that I need to do to build up, and then once it’s piled up sky high it’ll finally cause me enough stress to want to get them done. This is something I’d like to change about myself, and again it’s down to a problem with my lack of self discipline.

Self control is one of the fruits of the Spirit; unfortunately one I am gravely lacking in. Honestly I thought I’d improved already, but clearly it is something that I still desperately need to work on.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for revealing these things to me in Your kindness. Thank You for answering my prayers of showing me the areas I need to grow in, and the fruits of the Spirit I do not yet possess. Thank You for Your steadfast love, that has accompanied me and through which You have gently disciplined me since before I even knew You, for You have known me before the world began.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:13-16; 23-24, ESV

May You and You alone be glorified.

Soli Deo gloria,

Crystina