27th December 2024

For a lot of people, much of the enjoyment of Christmas comes through watching the delight of family and friends as they open gifts. For most of the year, we know gifts come with no strings attached, but most of us have grown up with the idea that at Christmas, we have to be on the good list, rather than the naughty list to merit gifts. We may not consciously think this, but it’s a subtle concept transmitted to us through traditional stories and songs. It’s no wonder people have trouble accepting God’s unconditional grace. 

In the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, about a boy and his imaginary tiger friend, Calvin is feeling stressed before Christmas. Hobbes asks him why, when as a kid, he doesn’t have to do any of the shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. He says, ‘Deep down I doubt my greed for presents can overcome my desire to misbehave.’ This honest assessment of human nature shows that we have always been on the naughty list and always would be except for God’s grace. 

Jesus is the best gift ever given to humanity and came with no strings attached, except that of believing he is the Son of God, the Saviour of the whole world. In his grace and by his blood, we are permanently off the naughty list and our names are written in the Book of Life. Both our greed and our desire to misbehave have been overcome by his love and grace. 

May we exult in Jesus, God’s unconditional love and his never-ending grace.

Merry Christmas

First published on 19 December 2023, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

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