And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” [Luke 2:8-12]
What’s the point of Christmas?
I know, it’s about Jesus and glad tidings and all of that, but we all know the REAL focus of Christmas is … presents! Take away shopping, shipping, and Santa, and what’s the point? Without tinsel and trees, Christmas is reduced to a tiny baby born to poor parents in an obscure village under questionable circumstances.
Sarcasm aside, gifts really are a central element of Christmas. Yesterday I wrote about the gifts of the Magi and asked, What Are You Giving Jesus For Christmas? But if I’m completely honest, the real issue isn’t what I bring. The true gift of Christmas is one I can only receive.
The enormous gift of Christmas is so incredible that it was announced by an angel and celebrated by a heavenly choir. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to proclaim something wonderful, a gift of peace and joy to everyone in the world.”
I thought about the priceless elements of the angel’s pronouncement: Jesus, salvation, forgiveness, freedom, sacrifice … It’s the most incomprehensible Christmas list ever composed, but it can be compressed into a single word: grace.
Jesus stepped down into the darkness of a silent night and brought us the marvelous light of His grace.
The question that remains is, will we accept it? Since you can’t put grace in a box, tie a bow around it, and rip open the wrapping paper on Christmas morning, what does “accepting it” mean?
It means letting go of the sense of guilt and regret. Simply put, Jesus lived and died so we could experience freedom from the nastiness that threatens to drag us back into darkness. We accept His gift when we acknowledge and live in the light of undeserved forgiveness.
It means trusting that the God who created the universe can create something good and wonderful from our mistakes and pain. God is bigger than our circumstances. Even when we see no way out and nothing positive that can ever arise from the ashes of tragedy, God can transform tears into triumph.
It means taking seriously the promise of a new beginning. It means accepting His invitation to give hope another chance.
Obviously, the gift of grace means much more than my meager list, but these might be a good place to begin.
The gift of grace is bigger than we can imagine. We don’t deserve it, but Jesus thought it was a gift worth dying for.
How can you intentionally accept the gift of grace this Christmas?
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What Are You Giving Jesus For Christmas?
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Great post Rich. The trouble with accepting grace is that so many of us are so full of “anti-grace”, there’s little room for it. My Christmas wish/prayer is that the Lord would deliver me once and for all from all my negativity, criticism, judgment… and heal the woundedness and rejection from which those things all spring forth. I desperately want to have His eyes of grace and love for everyone He puts in my life, myself included. It’s a war that’s been raging for years now and though He’s taken a lot of ground, I still see more “anti-grace” than grace in me in my thoughts towards others (and myself) when I perceive mistakes, failures, shortcomings and the like. John says that Jesus came from the Father “full of grace and truth”. That’s perfect fullness and perfect balance and I’d be thrilled to have the slightest portion of it. “The crumbs” of grave and truth” that fall from my Master’s table! That’s what I want for Christmas Lord. A greater ability to receive grace and dispense it, all in the context and for the glory of the Truth (Jesus).
You’re right. It’s simple, but definitely not easy. And every time I think I get it, I realize I haven’t got a clue. I guess we just keep encouraging each other and depending on that grace.
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