When Someone Says 'Happy Birthday' But Your Heart Says 'Look to the King

Dear Journal,

yesterday was my birthday, and it's got me thinking. You know what's funny? While everyone's trying to make the day about me, all I keep thinking about is how I want them to see past me and look toward Christ instead.

It reminds me of this powerful truth I've been pondering about God's law. Just like a thermometer reveals a fever we didn't know we had, His law shows us our true spiritual condition. I've been sitting here, surrounded by birthday wishes, but my heart keeps turning to this bigger picture.

You see, before understanding God's standards, I was walking around in a spiritual fog - just like many people who focus on celebrating me yesterday when I really want them to celebrate Him. It's like I had this fever but kept insisting I was fine, until His perfect law showed me otherwise.

Each birthday wish made me think: how can I redirect this attention to Christ? Because that's exactly what His law does - it redirects our attention from our self-sufficiency to our need for Him. All those things I'd been doing or thinking that I brushed off as "no big deal"? They stood out clear as day against His perfect standard.

Just like I feel uncomfortable being the center of attention on my birthday, I realize this discomfort with my own sin is actually a gift. The law didn't create these issues in me - they were already there. It just finally gave me a way to see them, just as I hope my life gives others a way to see Christ.

The beautiful thing is, this revelation isn't about making us feel bad - it's about pointing us to our need for Jesus. Like me trying to deflect birthday attention to Him, God's law deflects our self-confidence to dependence on Christ.

Note to self: Keep pointing people to Jesus. My birthday, my life, my everything - it's all about Him, not me.

Will reflect more on this tomorrow.

Until tomorrow 

Chaplain Mark

P.S. Lord, may my next year of life be less about me and more about revealing You to others.