He sees you when you’re sleeping; he knows when you’re awake.  He knows when you’ve been bad or good.

Wait a minute, who are we talking about here?  Santa or Jesus?  They both seem to know all about you, no matter your age.  However, while Santa is known to deliver smiles, he also has a reputation of being somewhat drunk on a street corner, less than reliable to fulfill all wishes of the lap-sitters, and has been caught kissing Mommy underneath the mistletoe.

Jesus, on the other hand, can deliver lasting smiles, but is also expected to bring introspection, which can turn that smile upside down.  Go to any church Advent service, and you will see folks welcoming Him back each year — just like Santa.  Shouldn’t Jesus be here every day?  How many people just welcome Him once a year?

Millions of kids get lots of toys each year, but the baby in the manger probably didn’t even get a rattle. And it’s hard to play with gold, frankincense and myrrh.  What He did get, though, is the adoration of many generations to come.  But does our adoration quickly fade when the holiday hoopla is over?

God’s message of peace and love and righteousness could have been delivered by anyone.  But the correct and true message needed to come by way of his only Son.  He’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Merry Christmas

A lot of people lay claim to the fact that they are saved; that is, they are born-again believers in Jesus Christ.  What are they saved from?  ”The penalty of sin” would be the usual answer.  What’s the penalty? Death.  But we all die.  Yes, but we need to be saved from eternal death in Hell.

How do we get saved?  By being born again.  How are we born again?  By believing that Jesus died to save us from our sins.  And on it goes.

Jesus died to save me from me.  You see, I love myself too much.  You might not know it if you meet me.  But I’m sure you can think of someone who appears to love themselves too much.  They’re not the dangerous ones; they wear it on their sleeves, so to speak.  No, it’s those of us who seem to lead a pious life, but, in fact, are as fickle as a mood ring — we are the ones who bring confusion to those who really know us.

I love things that God doesn’t love, like always being right, comparing my Christian walk to others who don’t seem to quite measure up or priding myself in my accomplishments and possessions, while not always admitting to it (or realizing that it is so).  God doesn’t want these things for me.  Neither does Jesus, who was, and is, my mentor.  I’m called to recognize things that are not worth loving.

Jesus died because he knew it was in God’s plan, the culmination of his perfect justice.  God loved me so much that he was willing when the Son said, “Let me go talk to them Father, that they might truly know you.” (I know.  It’s not in the Bible, but it could happen.)

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John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Jesus told his disciples that they would be going through rough times. They would be tried and persecuted. Following him would cost them their lives. He also promised them a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would guide and teach them. The Spirit would take them through the persecution, and their amazing peace would draw many to Christ.

At any point in time, somewhere throughout the world, someone is experiencing the same severe treatment and facing the same death as the disciples. But the great majority of us Christians will face nothing more than personal rejection by friends and family for our faith. Yet we struggle with having real peace.

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