If those who know you had to describe you in 3 words, what would those words be?
Surly, Crude, and Boorish? How about Cantankerous, Cranky, and Grumpy?
Those don’t sound good at all. But how about: Joyful, Patient, and Faithful?
Doesn’t that sound refreshing?
Well in scripture we find an excellent description of what should describe all Christians.
It’s Romans 12:12, and here’s what it says:
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
This is the model description of the Christian life: rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, constant in prayer.
And, of course, in the wider context of Romans we know that this joy is in Jesus, and this hope is for Jesus, and this patience is from Jesus, and this tribulation is with Jesus, and this constant prayer is through Jesus to God the Father.
So it’s not hard to weave this passage together with the Christmas events of Jesus’ birth—and the aim of that birth and his life and death and resurrection and reign today at God’s right hand in heaven.
Love you all! Pastor Tanner
(Editor’s Note: This column is written by a different Littlefield pastor for the Leader-News each week. The columns are published on this page on Wednesdays.)