react differently

We get a good amount of Christmas cards each year, and I’m sure you do too. So far, in our Christmas card collection at home, there’s one that is winning the “best picture award.” I’ve created award categories, which are “best picture,” “most original greeting,” and “best layout.” I love to see people’s creativity and of course, more importantly, how much their kids have grown and have changed.

In creating these cherished cards, you might desire to outdo last year’s card. Or, if you’re anything like me, your competitive side takes over and you desire to have the best card around. When people receive your card, you may hope that it is magnetized to the top of refrigerators, being most admired, winning all three award categories (okay, maybe it’s only in my head!). Each year we strive to improve our cards, with a different greeting, maybe a touch of Scripture, or an extra picture in the layout, etc.

There are many things in life that do not stay the same. As human beings, we are constantly changing physically, emotionally, and even mentally. We add new members to our families, loved ones pass away, we get promotions or lose a job, we or people we know get sick, etc. But during this time of the year, one thing is for sure and unchanging: the Christmas narrative. God’s Word hasn’t and will never change. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke have wonderfully described the events leading to Jesus’ birth. We can close our eyes and picture the Nativity Scene, with Jesus being born in a manger to the Virgin Mary. It is the same narrative that we heard about last Christmas, and the year before that, and the year before that.... Well, you get the picture: It will never change.

In the midst of changes that we can’t control, one change we can control is our reaction to the Christmas story. There are four different people or groups of people who encountered baby Jesus for the first time, and all four reacted differently. God’s word says in Luke, chapter two, verse twenty-eight, “[Simeon] took him in his arms and praised God...” Ten verses later, Anna “gave thanks to God.” Previous to these accounts, in verse twenty, the shepherds “returned [to tending their flock] glorifying and praising God.” Lastly, in Matthew, chapter two, verses eleven and twelve, the Magi travel to see the king of the Jews; they bowed, worshipped, and presented gifts.

The good news that Jesus Christ was born in a manger, in the little town of Bethlehem, surrounded by the Magi, shepherds, angels, a bright star above, some animals in the backdrop, and the awe by his parents, demands a reaction from us. It’s not just another Christmas card. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe it will cause a reaction of uncontrollable praise. Maybe it will cause you to tear up. Maybe it will ignite thankfulness in your heart. Maybe it will cause you to glorify God for sending His Son. Why? Because Jesus was born so that we can be saved from our sins. Will this unchanging story make you react differently this year?

Mercy is not an easy game to play.

Grace. Mercy. Undeserved favor. Kindness given when one deserves wrath. It's value is beyond the world's precious stones, but how come people don't value it as much?

This question echoes in my head this week: Why can't people see, understand, appreciate the value or worth of God's grace? I mean seriously, if someone came up to me and said, look all those nasty thoughts, my evil devices, my tendency to think ill of someone, the words that come out of my mouth, or you fill in the blank................... and then this person says I'm going to erase all those marks next to your name, yeah I guess my first tendency would be "well now, what do I have to do for you?"

But for me, I would sincerely ask, "why?" In our world it doesn't make sense, because we think we have to work for it to receive it. The answer to why: because God loves us. Seriously, there has to be more to it. Nope. And yes it seems like I'm having a conversation with my own words. I'm trying to wrap my mind around it. So because He loves me, He gives me an opportunity for a clean slate, a righteousness, sins not counted against me. I MEAN CMON! I can't get off that easy! Grace, an undeserved justice for my sin. Interesting. Beyond interesting, mind boggling, begs the question, what's my response? Cheesy I know, but crying comes to heart.

A lady calls (who knows we have $25 gift cards to grocery stores for the needy) asking for another one. She comes by and I hand her the card. It's probably the 3rd or 4th card I've given her, since she's learned that I have them. Today I decided to say "bring a receipt back to show me what you bought." I didn't know what I was thinking, my cynical side kicked in. Wouldn't grace suggest to give without conditions? Without comments? Without reservations of what she will do with the card?

It seems like I just answered the boundaries of grace. Yeah, that's it, it doesn't have any. Love encompasses all of it. (More cheese) It makes me want to run the streets, yelling like a madman of this amazing thing I know. Maybe I should stand on a busy street, holding the sign up, not the world's going to end, but that God loves you, you, you, you, you, you, and you, and you. I don't know what I'm doing staying inside this office. Seriously, why can't people understand this grace?