Dear friends of Mexico Ministries:
Merry Christmas! We still have a few weeks before the Christmas season officially arrives, but I want to wish you a Feliz Navidad, and remind you that JESUS is the focus, and Jesus is enough.
I was sitting next to a pastor waiting for my time to preach when he whispered, “What do you preach in Mexico?” When I replied that I preached Jesus Christ, he asked, “Is that enough?” Is Jesus enough, or do we need to add something else? It seems that all too often in churches these days the singular focus on Jesus gets overshadowed by many other things; the newest gimmick, the current religious fad, and the frequent message that if we will just add this one thing or that other thing to our spiritual walk, it will somehow impress God and cause him to bless us. I get tired of the TV preachers who beg for money and say if you send them $1,000 it will unlock God’s favor in your life. At the bottom of all this extra religious baggage is the idea that we need to do something to manipulate God to have favor toward us. But isn’t Jesus enough? Isn’t his life and ministry enough? Isn’t his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father’s right hand enough? Isn’t the sure hope of his coming again enough? Isn’t Jesus proof that God loves us and doesn’t need us to twist his arm to bless us?
Jesus was enough when the sick woman touched the hem of his robe. Jesus was enough when Lazarus heard his voice and came out of the tomb. Jesus was enough when Paul encountered him on the road to Damascus. Jesus was enough for the apostles who spent their lives and went to their deaths proclaiming his Gospel. Jesus was enough for the missionaries through the ages who have given their years to sharing him with the lost. Jesus was enough for the martyrs to go to their deaths singing his praises. And Jesus is enough for me.
I just returned home from my first trip to Mexico since the pandemic hit, and I will be going back soon. I will leave the fads and the extra baggage here in the United States and take my place with the poor in Mexico who can’t afford to play the religious games or pay for the religious gimmicks, but who have a faith that is richer because it is simpler. These dear people know: Jesus is enough.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you,
Larry