Dear Santa, let me explain! See what happened was, well see it went like this, uh, one day I was, uh, dang, I'm getting coal huh?
It got me to thinking. We all know that Santa is making a list; he's determined to find out who has been naughty and who has been nice. As a parent it makes for a great motivator to get the kids to do their chores around the house . . . err that is until they outgrow Santa. As little kids we all wanted to be on Santa's nice list.
But as the years pass we begin to pile up some things that are not so nice. Yes I confess; Santa knows I've been naughty (much more than twice). It's not just the weather but my heat that's cold as ice. Will the good things I do be enough to suffice? When placed on Santa's scale my good deeds must be no more than a few grains of rice.
Okay, Dr. Seuss I'm not, but you get the picture. What good must we do to at least balance the scales of our naughtiness? None of us want to be written off Santa's nice list. And therein is the problem. With Santa we must earn the gifts put in our stocking or under our tree. And if we're not good enough then all we may find is that dirty lump of coal.
But Jesus is different by far. He does not require us to earn His favor.
- For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)
Salvation is God's work from start to finish. We don't have to earn His forgiveness . . . rather we can't earn it. It's a gift for all who are simply willing to receive it.
"Dear Jesus, let me explain . . . "
"Don't explain it, just tell me."
"Well what happened was . . . God I've really blown it - again. Forgive me."
"Look to the tree. Remember my final words, 'It is finished.' I forgive you."
1 comment:
Super insights Sir.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!!
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