Appetites and Anxieties
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life." Luke 21:34 (NIV)
We're celebrating the Christmas season each night by lighting our Advent candles, having a short family devotional and prayer, and singing a lot of favorite Christmas carols. James Bruce might not totally understand our Scripture readings and prayers, but he literally beams when we sing. "Joy" is the only word that comes to my mind and heart as I watch him sing in the soft glow of candlelight. Of all the Evans family Christmas traditions that Bruce and I attempted to establish as young parents, Advent devotionals are my favorite. Most of the year we struggled with regular family devotionals, but Advent devotionals were always a lot easier. For one thing, Bruce's coaching schedule usually allowed him to be home during the evenings between football and baseball seasons. Plus there was always a race at the end to see who would blow out the Advent candles.
This week Bruce, James Bruce, and I are working our way through the first two chapters of the Luke's Gospel that record the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. But we've also been busy with putting up the Christmas tree, shopping for presents, wrapping gifts, and taking care of some final details for Daniel's January wedding. Even though our devotionals have been in Luke 1-2, today's verse from Luke 21 keeps coming to my mind and heart. Just before his arrest, Jesus' warns his disciples about many things: deception by false teachers; signs of the end times; suffering that is coming from arrest and persecution; and the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus exhorts his disciples with the words from today's verse: "Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life."
Most of us probably can't identify with the words "dissipation" (carousing) and "drunkenness," but both of these words represent uncontrolled appetites.
Appetites and anxieties abound during the Christmas season. It's not just the holiday food and drink that drain budgets and expand waist lines. Endless gift lists; crowded calendars; packed schedules; long to-do lists; and constant "eye candy" from creative advertisers and social media contribute to our appetites, anxieties, and collective angst. In addition to that toxic combination, a prolonged bitter political campaign, the #MeToo movement, possible nuclear war with Korea, special counsels and a continuous 24/7 hour news cycle seemingly make life appetites and anxieties impossible to avoid.
Jesus' advice to his disciples is still good advice for us today. Guarding our hearts is the key to controlling the appetites and anxieties of life. Following Jesus' admonition to "watch and pray"(Luke 21:36), the Apostle Paul penned these words:
"Don't be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Appetites and anxieties or the peace of God which passes all our understanding? We can present our appetites and anxieties to God's throne of grace to receive grace and help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16) or we can stew and brew over it all. The choice is ours. May we all choose what pleases Him (Isaiah 56:4)
Amen and Amen!
Donna