Trees and tinsel and mistletoe, friends and family and food, carols and movies and the mall (well, used to be the mall, now it's Etsy).
And church on Christmas Eve, or Christmas morning.
That's the grace of Christmas...or is it?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
It's all very cozy, very comforting, until you realize that Christmas morning puts Jesus on a collision course with betrayal, an unfair trial, scourging, the Via Dolorosa, and his brutal murder on the Cross.
Don't want that as your tree-topper.
We celebrate with an exchange of gifts, in the footsteps of the Magi, but we tend to overlook the fact that the true gift of Christmas is the grace God extended to us, the grace that through a blood offering, the blood and suffering of His Son, delivered us from the inevitable cost of sin, and saved us from eternal damnation.
Perhaps that's what we should be paying forward.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you... - Matthew 5:44
The gift we can't bear to offer, but that we must share, is the forgiveness God has for us.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:13
Music from Band Aid, with Do They Know It's Christmas?
Forgiveness, says Sylvia, should include ice cream.
Thanks for helping us keep our eyes on the Gift!
ReplyDeleteThe other day, I saw a meme displaying a baby cradle that had a crown of thorns placed in it. It was startling (meant to be, I'm sure). And it hit me negatively at first. I don't know if believers through the ages leading up to the cross had any idea what their deliverance would cost. What grace that God was willing to go through all that was involved to redeem us. And I so agree with you, we shouldn't just enjoy this gift ourselves, but also extend it to others.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, Andrew: the true gift is grace, at this season and every day. And yes again, maybe we pass it forward to others. It's a miracle indeed in both the receiving and the giving.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, thank you for bringing us back to John 3:16. We live and breathe by that glorious truth and promise.
ReplyDeleteSo grateful for our gift of Lord Jesus and grace. Thank you for your encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteForgiveness is one of the greatest gifts of all, Andrew, and can only be given by the power of His Holy Spirit as our flesh would deny grace to all, even ourselves. May you and Barb have a grace-filled week.
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