Labor Day is now past. Schools of every kind are in session. You can feel the shift of temperature in the air. Long days and warm nights both shift to shorter days and much cooler nights. The first changing leaves remind us that fall looms. As summer wanes, two questions weigh heavy on my mind to consider.
First, some context. Our family ends this summer with a sense of wondering where it went and what happened to it. With the Delta variant and the disruptions it brought and other pressures, we arrive at the end of summer wondering if somehow we missed it. The lazy days of summer this year turned into something different or something. Possibly you end summer like us as well. On the other hand, possibly you finish summer going strong. Your experience may be just the exact opposite where you have experienced the absolute best of summer. You may be heading into the fall having relaxed and are vacationed up. No doubt, all of us are someone on the scale between the two poles.
Whether you had an easy and great summer or a bit more pressured summer, your relationships with Christ and others have been affected in one degree or another. With that in mind, here are the two questions.
Question One: Your Love for Jesus Christ
What impact has your summer had on your relationship with Jesus Christ?
As summer wanes, how is your relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you doing better in September than you were doing in May? How is your walk with Jesus? Are you reading His Word, praying, and enjoying fellowship with Him? Would you say that your joy in Christ is greater or lesser than the beginning of summer? How often do you intentionally consider your relationship with Christ? Have you served well as His ambassador? Would others around you believe that your passion for Jesus has grown throughout the summer? Are there key decisions that you made this summer that benefits or hinders your relationship with Jesus? Are there sins that need to be confessed and forgiveness sought from Him? Have you prioritized Jesus throughout your summer? Have you been faithful to attend your local church regularly? What about your giving?
Ok. That’s a main question with many other questions associated with it. Hopefully, you get the main idea. What impact has your summer had on your relationship with Jesus Christ?
Question Two: Your Love and Service for Others
What impact has your summer had on your relationships with others around you?
As summer wanes, how are your relationships with others around you? Have you maintained fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ with those around you? During the summer, have you sought out and intentionally developed your relationships with people? Or, is it possible that your schedule, disruptions, and other pressures have kept you from engaging well with others? Have you been concerned with others’ cares more than your own? Is there sin that needs to be confessed, forgiveness sought, or forgiveness granted? Have you sought to be an encouragement to those around you? What have you specifically done to serve those around you this summer? How have others specifically been impacted by you either positively or negatively this summer? Have you sought out accountability with others or sought to help others? Have your brothers and sisters in your local church benefited from you this summer? Where did you use your energy, creativity, and imagination to authentically love and serve others? Would you say that you have loved and served others well?
Friends, let’s be honest. For many good reasons, it is easy to have not served others well this summer. Some of you have fought COVID, others have lost family and friends, others still have needed people around them to serve them, and tough circumstances have encouraged discouragement. In fact, we all slog through seasons like this. You may be there. You may have found it difficult to breathe both literally and physically this summer.
Whatever your circumstantial situations, as summer wanes, what impact has your summer had on your relationships with others around you?
As Summer Wanes, What’s the Next Step?
I am fond of asking this question, what’s the next step for you?
In your relationship with Jesus, what do you need to do today to take the next step? Then, please do it. Do not let any inconsistency of your summer impact your fall; instead, take the next step toward a better fall with Jesus Christ.
In your relationship with others, what do you need to do today to take the next step? Again, please do it. Your fall will be much better if you take the next step.
In reality, there may be many steps you need to take. However, this simple principle is always true: to walk a mile you need to take the next step. The next step is the most important for you to make progress. There may be many areas of concern that you have. Possibly your summer really hurt your relationship with Jesus and others. If so, begin the process to make your fall better. However, if summer was good for you – which no doubt is true for many reading this, then make decisions now and take next steps for even a better fall.
As summer wanes, how are you doing my friends?
Image Credit Kevin Carson
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
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