What's the Message?

As a child I would love Saturday mornings because it meant that I got to read the 'big paper' with my Pop whenever I slept over at my grandparents.  I remember it going from black and white print to coming alive in colour.  Calvin and Hobbes was definitely my favourite as I fantasised about having my own grown up sized tiger who simply wanted to have fun.  As a 5-8 year old, I'm not sure that I understood all the messages that were coming through these colourful stories which depicted humorous antics.

I recently sat down on the weekend and turned to the comic section and was shocked at what I saw and read.  The subliminal messages that were coming through reached as far as; domestic and verbal abuse, disrespect for authority and elders, violence, theft and a general lack of empathy and care towards others.  Surely all those years ago I was not taking in these messages as a child?  Has society stooped so low that the misfortunes and abuse of others becomes so desensitised in our society that we use humour to deal with it through a comic strip?  

This sent me on a time of reflection as I pondered, "What are the messages we are wanting our children to grow up with?"  "What's our responsibility as the adults in the room in sharing these messages?"  and "What is the main message in the life of someone who has a relationship with Jesus?"  

My thinking constantly came back to the main message of the Bible which is that God is restoring the world to His original design through Jesus Christ.  A design that was perfect and was simply good!  A message that allows the complications of life to come under the authority of a God who embraces all those who accept Him.  A message that is important to share as we live in a world that is simply broken.

As a faith-based Christian ELC we acknowledge that God is our Creator whose love far outreaches anything we could ever do.  That this love is expressed in the lives of His children and therefore everyone has the ability to accept His love and forgiveness because of Jesus ability to restore the things that are broken.  

The message of the Bible is that there is hope in this world amongst the subliminal messages that we have to sift through that don't offer encouragement, disregards healthy relationships and uses humour to excuse dishonour.  My prayer for you and your children is that you will have faith to believe and trust in Jesus as your King, under His life-giving and joy-filled authority.  May the messages that you share in your families be louder than those of the world, full of truth, love and life!

Blessings to you all, 

Jacqui