Well, life ran over me the last week or so. I try to write on Monday, when I am fresh from a relaxing weekend (oh, wait! I can't remember the last one of those I had!).
In my reading, I have moved from Acts to Romans. God's timing is interesting!?! I never realized that Romans begins with the Christmas Story - you know "unto you a child is born." We'll get to that in a minute.
Did you ever stop to wonder why God needed to send a gift to us? You know, He created us to be in fellowship with Him - Adam and Eve in the Garden - one on one - face to face with God - always in His presence. He really wanted that for us! He still wants that for us! But, like most kids, we decided to do our own thing. Boy, what a mistake. Then came the apple. You know, if I had been there ... (well, actually, Eve would not have had to give me the apple. I would have taken it myself - no help from anyone else.) At that moment, God already knew we would stray, and He already had a plan in mind to get us back into fellowship with Him. Amazing! I would have just scrapped the whole thing and started over. But, (don't you love that word when it comes from God?) He loved (and still loves) us too much to just give up on us. So, He sent us a baby. What! I know, it's not how we would have done it, but it's really just what we needed.
Back to Romans. In Chapter 1, verses 1 - 7, Paul tells us the Christmas Story. Read it again if you don't believe me. Set apart, by a Promise from beforehand. His Son, born of flesh. Declared with resurrection power to be The Son of God. To give us grace and apostleship - adopted back into the family, nature changed so we can be what we were created to be, eternal destination changed so we could be back in face-to-face relationship with Him. There it is again - He wants us! Can't imagine why, but He can. Thank you Lord Jesus for being willing to come and do all things necessary and save us! Thank you Father for not giving up on me, ever!
But, keep reading. Now comes the part we were saved from. Starting in verse 18 and following, Paul tells us what we are really like, if we are honest, when we are left to our own devices. Yes, I know, you aren't that bad. But couldn't you be, if there were no restraints? I think - no, I know - I could!?! As I read this, I was amazed by how much of it you could actually see in everyday life. Nature screams out that there is a creator. We ignore it. We know all about God, but put him neatly in a corner, not to inconvience us too much. We search for more knowledge, but fail to gleen it's true potential. We pervert, cheapen, trade, lie, steal, gossip, boast and on it goes. If you read this list and compare it to the papers, or grocery store magazines, or evening news, can you see it. It's all right there.
But, God sent us a baby! Never forget that. He didn't send us a tree. He didn't send us a candy cane. He didn't send us a sleigh or reindeer. He sent us a baby. That baby was the joy of the whole world. We had the pleasure of keeping our youngest grandson (6 mos.) this past week. Baby's can be demanding. But, boy is it worth it! All it takes is one smile that lights up his face to make you forget the early mornings, the dirty diapers, everything else. That's what God sent us. A baby who's smile will continue to light up the world for all who believe. It really lights it up even if you don't believe, but you don't have eyes to see. That's for another day.
So, remember this Christmas Season. Remember what God has sent you. Revel in it. Ponder it. Consider it. Accept it. No strings, just light!
Blessings to you and yours this wonderful, joyful, bright Christmas!
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