This Christmas, there’s good news and there’s bad news!
Any Christmas that revolves around Santa comes down to this: are you on the nice list, or are you on the naughty list?
If you’ve been good — you qualify for the nice list — and get the reward! If you’ve been bad – you end up on the naughty list and miss out! It’s important for parents to help children understand decisions have consequences — both good and bad — although without deferring to Santa as the source of moral authority [smile].
But, when it comes to the REAL reason for Christmas, there’s good news and bad news.
First, the bad news.
The Bible says, we’re ALL on the naughty list!
Ouch!
Jesus said, the thoughts we think are enough to know – and show we are broken people living in a broken world. There is an ultimate gift from God — a relationship with Him that lasts forever, but it’s out of reach, since we can never earn or deserve God’s favor.
You don’t see this on too many Christmas cards.
But here’s the good news that turns Christmas upside down, or I should say the right way up.
The Bible says, God loves every person — despite the fact we’re on the naughty list — so much that He was willing to do what was necessary to get us out of trouble.
In the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life a broken man cries out to God when he’s burdened with a debt he can’t repay, until someone else steps in and saves the day.
In the movie, the story makes sense because he was a good man who deserved it.
In the real Christmas story — which is HIStory, God came to save people who didn’t deserve it. Jesus lived among us. He died for us — to pay for everything that ought to separate us from a Holy God. It’s got nothing to do with our goodness, it’s all about God’s grace.
Now that’s a real gift – the kind we don’t deserve and can’t afford.
And that’s why this message is celebrated around the world!
This is a gift you can unwrap this Christmas. How? Ask God to forgive you, trust in Jesus who died for you and believe that He rose again to conquer death, offering you new life that starts today and lasts forever!
Merry Christmas!
Alex
Many thanks to guest blogger Alex McLellan.
Catch up: The introductory post to the Journey Together series.
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