Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 21, 2023

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

“For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.”

2 Corinthians 4:11 (NRSV) 

Let’s make it our goal to be continually aware of the presence of Jesus in our life. How do we do that? First, remember “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:11a). (The truth of this scripture is that we can initiate a conversation with the Holy Spirit, and this gives us the awareness of Christ’s presence in our life.)

Sometime in the coming days, we may find ourselves in the grip of adverse circumstances. We may be so perplexed we don’t know what to do, or how to pray. That is ok because all we need to do is whisper, “Abba, I need you”, and we will experience the Holy Spirit praying for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. As we relax in the presence of the Risen One, a smile may engulf our face because we will know that God is working our circumstances for good. At that very moment, God is forming Christ within us. (See Romans 8:26-29 & Galatians 4:19)

On the afternoon I am writing this, I’ll attend a gathering of friends for a surprise birthday party for a neighbor. I just may shout, “Laissez les bon temps rouler.” Why? Because I remember Jesus at the wedding at Cana (John 2).  I suspect Jesus may have had a twinkle in his eyes as the Wine Steward took a sample of the new wine to the bridegroom. Jesus may have said to himself, “Laissez les bon temps rouler --- “Let the good times roll.”

This simple discipline of just remembering Jesus in the ordinary times of life, will enable us to be given up to death for Jesus’ sake, which is Paul’s way of saying that we die to self-interest. When we do, the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

My Takeaway: I think it really is this simple. As we remember the teachings of Jesus in the everyday events of our life, we can have an active awareness of Jesus showing himself strong in our life. Then the good times really will roll.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.