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<p>A Christian who has the full righteousness of Christ is not mature and complete until he grows into the behavior that <strong>demonstrates</strong> Christ’s righteousness. Instead, he’s like a baby-Huey: a big overgrown baby-Christian who’s still on a bottle and never graduated to solid food, never learned to walk on his own, always has to be carried, and is always in need of other people’s grace.</p>
<p>Following my son’s cell group this week, some of the boys stood around in the kitchen yucking it up. One of the boys had on an unusual jacket, and my husband mentioned it. When the boys began to actually notice the article of clothing, it became apparent to us all that it didn’t fit. In this case, it was too small. So small, in fact, that he had the sleeves pushed way up on his arms so no one would notice how short they were. Amid the ribbing that ensued, Walby offered no explanation, so the too-small jacket shall remain a mystery – but I remembered it later.</p>
<p>Do you ever look around you and just see evil in a huddle on the other side of the field plotting a battle plan against you that can’t be defended? Trying to do this Christian thing is often like facing the giants and losing every time.</p>
<p>As those who are now clothed with the glory of Christ, we have the strength within us to stand without flinching in the midst of our toppled baggage with all of our old shame exposed. We have a new name, a new family, and a new identity that is eternally unaffected by our own or anyone else’s opinion, assessment, accusation, attack, or attempt to discredit. You, my friend, are a child of God.</p>
<p>Pursuing an honest and joyful Christmas has made me unapologetically eliminate the things that would master me to no good end, and freed me to do what I truly <strong>want</strong> to do, motivated only by the purest joy available to me while still trapped in this flesh. The result is my heart’s version of Christmas pared down to the essential core.</p>
<p>So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. Romans 7:21</p>
<p>“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1</p>
<p>Faith is being sure of what we hope for: completion in Christ. We're often so focused on that end that we miss the means of getting there and overlook the value of the process.</p>
<p>I know that I’ve mentioned that I volunteer at the local Children’s Shelter – this will be my fourth year working as the school’s librarian, so it isn’t as if I don’t know what we do there, but sometimes you have to come nose-to-nose with something before you really see it clearly.</p>
<p>Here’s what I’ve learned about leaving someone with the genuine invitation to “let us know if you need anything”: they will not ask. They will not shoot up a flare so you can pinpoint their location and come to their rescue. They will not cry out. They will not wave a flag. They will not call, email or text. But they will very much need help in the most desperate ways. Ways that make them feel crazy, or worse, needy.</p>