“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

I am not a fan of “Hallmark” holidays. You know the ones I mean: Grandparent’s Day, Boss’s Day, Administrative Professional’s Day, and yes, National Coffee Day. Really, did someone actually want to celebrate their boss, or was this a marketing ploy to sell more cards? You know the answer – I am not just being cynical. Lately I discovered there is a day labeled National Buy Yourself a Toy Day. Look, do I need an excuse to buy myself something else I really do not need? There is a commercial for a bank that reminds us that “…our “I need that” soon becomes “what on earth was I thinking?’” I guess we’ve forgotten that “He who dies with the most toys is still dead!”

So, let’s join the party and mark some special days on the calendar that might make a huge haul for the kingdom. How about: 

• National Love Your Neighbor Day
• National Forgive Your Enemy Day
• Do Something About Poverty Day
• National Encourage Your Pastor Day
• National Commit One Act of Selfless Love Day
• National Stick Up for Jesus Day
• The Father’s Day
• National Widows Day
• National Feed the Hungry Day
• Love the Lost Day
• Make a Sinner Your Friend Day
• Hug Someone Who’s Not Like You Day
• Sing a Contemporary Worship Song in the Shower Day (for everyone over 65)
• Sing a Great Hymn of the Faith in the Shower Day (for everyone under 40)

Maybe you can think up some other days that we should be celebrating instead of “National Cake Day”.

Which of the “kingdom holidays” listed above would be the easiest for you to celebrate? Why? Which of the “kingdom holidays” would be the most challenging for you? Why?

Pastor Dave

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Americans spend a good deal of time celebrating with picnics and fireworks during the summer months – especially around the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day holidays. We try to put aside partisan differences and political perspectives, all the while lining the streets of their towns and villages to see brightly decorated floats, shiny fire trucks, antique cars, marching bands, and grown men driving go-carts in circles. I find it interesting to note that the apostle Paul actually uses the picture of a parade to teach the Corinthian believers an important biblical truth about the work of Jesus on our behalf. In the second chapter of 2 Corinthians he says that G-d “always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ”. The Corinthians would have been very familiar with the idea of “triumphal processions.” In fact, anyone living under the Roman Empire would have instantly pictured what Paul was describing. Historians write about the Roman forces that would parade through a town they captured and march the captured and defeated general and his remaining troops, shackled and humbled, in a demonstration of power and might. While they marched, the pagan priests of Rome would burn incense to symbolize the sweet smell of victory.

Paul takes that powerful picture and uses it to illustrate the immensity of Christ’s victory over sin and death in the lives of His followers. He says that in the spiritual world, we are being led by the victorious one—Jesus—in a triumphal parade that displays His victory over the forces of evil. We have been set free from our enslavement to sin, and we are now “slaves to righteousness” Paul even takes the illustration one step further by referencing the incense burned in the Roman processions. “God . . . through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” Paul says that our very lives are to be a sweet-smelling reminder of the victory we find in Jesus. The scent of G-d’s grace is supposed to linger in the lives of those we encounter on a daily basis.

Today, I believe you need to picture yourself being led through the streets of your town, on display to your friends and family as a winner – a victor in the battlefield that is Jesus Christ. When Jesus is the victor, no one can rain on your parade!

What are some practical ways to celebrate and remember the day that Jesus set you free from your sin?

What freedoms and blessings do you enjoy now because of Christ’s victory on the cross? 

Pastor Dave