25 Days Of Christmas (Day 21: The Nice List!)

I wrote yesterday about the naughty list and how, according to the Gospel, each and every one of us start off on the naughty list and remain there until Jesus enters to the picture and captures our hearts!! By grace through faith in Christ, naughty people find themselves on the Nice List!!

But what exactly does the Nice List mean??

While there is not an actual "Nice List" per se', there is this book called the book of life in which every believers name has been recorded. The only way into this book is by grace through faith in Christ. You cannot DO anything or EARN your way into this book...Only Jesus can get you listed in the book of life and only through faith in Him...His perfect life...His perfect death...His resurrection...His victory over sin and death on our behalf...and His coming return!!

So what does it really mean?? This, for me, is THE amazing part of all that Christ has done and is doing on our behalf:

Being in the book of life (Nice List), which you ARE IN if you are a believer means that God now and forever looks at you as good!! God now and forever sees you as RIGHTEOUS!! PERFECT!! HOLY!! BLAMELESS!! WITHOUT FAULT!!

God - The Creator of ALL things - The One whose opinion matter most above all else including your own - God looks at YOU as a believer and sees you EXACTLY as He sees Christ!! You are hidden in Christ!! Christ is in you!! All by grace through faith in Him!!

Even the very second you are telling a lie God looks at you and says "RIGHTEOUS!" (Romans 5:1)

Even in that moment of anger God looks at you and says "RIGHTEOUS!" (Romans 8:1)

Even that moment when you are doing something absolutely vile and unspeakable, God looks at you and says "RIGHTEOUS!" (Hebrews 8:12)

Even that moment when _____________________ (I'll let you fill in the blank with whatever sins you think or do), God looks at you and says "RIGHTEOUS!!!!!" (Ephesians 2:13)

The list goes on and on as does the scriptures to support the fact that by His grace through faith in Him, God will only look at you as a righteous holy perfect and sinless child of His!!

As a believer, you and I (naughty sinful people) are on the nice list today all because of Jesus!! Let's celebrate THAT!!

"God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." -John 3:17

"Love one another." -Jesus

25 Days Of Christmas (Day 20: Naughty List!)

The concept of a Naughty & Nice List is not far removed from the Jewish belief that God keeps a book in Heaven that records all your good deeds and all your bad deeds. The belief is that which ever outweighs the other determines your fate...

Many Christians believe that God keeps a list of deeds as well - And how you do on that list determines which rewards you will get in Heaven. While this subject is open to tons of speculation due to the vagueness of the scriptures, I love that no where in the New Testament is "REWARDS" (plural) used. It is always the singular word REWARD!!

Regardless...The truth of the Gospel is this: By grace through faith in Christ, completely naughty people like you and me find ourselves on the Nice List!!

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." -Romans 3:22

How amazing that God sent His Son to be born in a manger...To live the perfect life...To die the perfect death...To be resurrected...So that any who believe are made completely and totally RIGHT with God!! So amazing!!

Merry Christmas!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

25 Days Of Christmas (Day 19: Jump For Joy!! Everybody Jump! Jump!)

I wanna start this note out with a warning that we will be talking about abortion. I know you might not THINK that subject belongs in the Christmas story, but honestly it's unavoidable...Plus I like that the Gospel is so clear on it. :)

So...Mary is having a baby!! This baby is Jesus!! She is amped up!! An angel had come to her and told her all this was happening AND included a nice little tidbit:

"Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month." -Luke 1:36

So Mary...Excited to rejoice with Elizabeth, travels to see her. Now...Not just travels...Mary - Teenage pregnant girl - WALKS almost a hundred miles through the heat to see Elizabeth!! Wow...We could all take a lesson on fellowship from Mary, eh?

Anwyay - So Elizabeth is doubly excited!! She is pregnant finally...But also, her husband is mute for a few months so the blessings of the Lord abounds in Elizabeths house!! :p

So Mary arrives and before they even get face to face, this happens:

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." -Luke 1:41

How awesome is this!! Here is Elizabeth carrying a six month old John the Baptizer (No he wasn't baptist) in her womb and the minute he hears the voice of Jesus' mom, he starts leaping in the womb!! Leaping!! This 6 month old unborn child starts leaping for joy over Jesus months before He comes!!

Ok - Let's just put this out there: First, Luke is writing this (Hence the name of the book: Luke) and Luke is a medical doctor. Second, we clearly see that the baby in Elizabeths womb was active and responsive. Third, and best of all, Luke uses the exact same word to describe John the Baptizer in the womb of Elizabeth as he does when he speaks of the baby Jesus in the manger. He even uses the same word for toddlers later in Luke as the people bring their children to Jesus. Pre-Birth...Post-Birth...And even toddler age. Same word.

A baby in the womb is known by God just as John was. A baby in the womb is alive just as John was. A baby in the womb is human and valued by God just as John was.

Now...Depending on where you stand on this point, you're either mad or glad. My question is always: Did you develop your position on abortion from scripture? The answer to that question determines the legitimacy of your stance.

ANYWAY - I'll let you wrestle with that...Feel free to comment if you like. We can discuss. But more importantly (Yes...I know many Christians don't think there are things more important than abortion...But there is at least ONE thing)...Let's talk about Jesus!! We talk about celebrating Jesus at Christmas alot...And there are different ways to celebrate Him...But do you feel like John did when you think of Jesus coming into this world?? Do you leap for joy!! Does your heart leap for joy!! Do you just wanna JUMP!!

Man I do!! And...I do!! I think this is a mark of someone who truly grasps the amazing undeserved grace of God!! This amazing grace (Jesus) is for sinners like you and me. Maybe you've had an abortion...Jesus!! Maybe you have hatred in your heart for people who have had an abortion or doctors who perform them...Jesus!! Maybe you're a liar, a cheat, a gossip, a fornicator, a murderer, etc...Jesus!!

You see there are not different measures of Jesus offered by God - There is just Jesus!! God didn't draw a line on the sin scale and say "Those who do not sin past this point can have salvation." - No!! He said it's for EVERYONE who believes!! Jesus!! One sacrifice for ALL sin!! YES...Even yours!! :)

"For nothing will be impossible with God.” -Luke 1:37

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

25 Days Of Christmas (Day 18: Baby Daddy!)

Yesterday we spoke on God choosign to bring His Son into the world through an unwed teenage girl - Today let's talk about Joseph!

Can you imagine for a moment that your guy friend comes up to you and tells you that his fiance is pregnant and that they have never had sex?? What would your response be? I know what mine would be!! "Better kick that girl to the curb!"...Then of course: "Oh...REEEEAAAALLLYYY...She saying it's "God's" baby?? Seriously?? How big of an idiot does she think you are??"

I know - Not very gracious...Just honest. It hurts my heart a little that this would be my response and that instead of celebrating the coming of Christ into the world, I would be jeering at it and condemning it!!

Oh but it's worse for Joseph!! These were VERY strict times they were living in!! The religious elites carried the law around like a beat-down stick looking to pronounce judgement on any who disobeyed (very much like many religious elites today)...But in those days, adulterers and women who had sex outside of marriage got literal beat downs with stones. Remember..This was at least 30 years before the events of the adulterous woman and Jesus in John 8!!

Can you imagine the public pressure on Joseph?? Pressure from friends..family...church leaders...society in general!! I'm honestly not sure how a man doesn't cave under those circumstances!! And he DID cave somewhat...It says that Joseph was a just man so he had decided to divorce Mary quietly.

You see, Joseph had had an encounter with God. Sure he was a good Jewish boy before all this, but he had encountered God first hand:

"But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” -Matthew 1:20-21

You see, an encounter with God changes EVERYTHING!! An encounter with the Gospel changes EVERYTHING!! Here we read that Joseph not only encountered God through the angel of the Lord, but he is told the Gospel!! He is told the incredible GOOD NEWS that this baby will be named Jesus and that He will save His people from their sins!!

Two things:

1 - Most importantly, THIS message that Joseph received is what we celebrate at Christmas!! That Jesus came not to simply live a good life or teach good things or perform some miracles or to show us how to live...No, He came to live the life we couldn't live and die the death we all deserve to be resurrected and defeat death on our behalf so that through belief in Him we have peace with God forever and ever!!

2 - If that message causes you to celebrate then you have encountered God at some point and you can also celebrate this Christmas that encountering God changes everything!! Let's celebrate that Jesus came to Earth so that we might encounter Him!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

25 Days Of Christmas (Day 17: Baby Mama Drama!!)

I love all of the many crazy aspects of the Christmas story!! God coming as a wiggly little baby...God born in a barn...Lowly shepherds being the first called to see the King...But one of the craziest aspects is the virgin birth!!

You know the story...Mary...This teenage virgin girl...Is chosen by God to be the birth mother of Jesus. We've heard the story so much that we almost just think this story is normal...But it is anything but normal cause our God is far from normal!!

Do me a favor...Think of the most Jesus loving teenage girl you know. She loves God. She's a "good girl". She cares for others and has a great heart for both God and people. She is young and innocent and sweet. She is adored by the people in the church. She sings and helps out and volunteers etc.

If you have someone in mind, good. Now - Imagine her coming forward pregnant. Imagine her trying to explain that it is not her boyfriends baby. Imagine her trying to explain to everyone that God came to her and that the child she is carrying is the coming of the Messiah.

Now imagine the churches response...Imagine the towns response...Imagine your response...

You see, we've heard the story so much that we assume that we would just be cool with it and celebrate it...But we ALL know that there would be no celebration!! There would be sneering and accusations and assumptions and doubt and ridicule and gossip...LOTS of gossip!! She would be hidden away by family. She would be barred from singing and volunteering at the church. She would immediately go from being the great Jesus loving girl to the newest town harlot.

All this because God chose her to be something incredible - The mother of Jesus!!

Three things I love about this part of the story:

1 - God chose Mary. She didn't ask for it nor earn it...He chose her. You and I can make all the claims we want about US coming to Christ or about US finding Jesus or about US giving our lives to Him...But the truth always has been and always will be that HE CHOSES US!!

2 - I love that there was all kinds of drama around the birth of Jesus!! I love that there was gossip and lies and scandal!! I love that this EXTREMELY religious culture looked down on the way God chose to bring in His Son with scowls and doubt and denial and contempt!! It sets the stage perfectly for how Jesus will be received in His ministry as well by the Jewish people at large. It also reveals each of our hearts toward God before He chose us!!

3 - I love that this story is yet another example of God and His glorious love of saving sinners!!

"And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." -Luke 1:30

I love that the angel calls her specifically by name and tells her not to be afraid...Not just in that moment, but ever...Don't be afraid EVER!! Why?? Here's the coolest part to me....Why?? Because she had found favor with God!! Literally translated, favor means GRACE!! The angel told Mary to not be afraid because she had found GRACE with God!!

How are you and I saved?? Ephesians 2:8 says that every person throughout the history of creation (including you and me) have been saved the same way: BY GRACE!!Let's celebrate the truly amazing grace of God this Christmas!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

25 Days Of Christmas (Day 16: You, Me, & The Shepherds...Part 3!!)

We've talked about a few aspects fo the shepherds in the Christmas story...About how they were the low class people, yet God called the first to see the new born King!! Also about how they were the least religious...Yet God called them first and not the priests!!

The other thing that trips me out about the shepherds in the Christmas story is that here are a bunch of low class, disrespected guys who didn't go regularly to the temple out in the fields watching over the sheep outside of the holy city...Sheep that would be used in large part for the sacrifices of sins at the temple in Jerusalem!!

Did you catch that?? Here are shepherds watching over the sheep that would be used in the temple as sacrifices for the peoples sin...And they are called to be the first ones to see the One sent into this world to be THE sacrifice for ALL sin!! (1 John 2:2)

How crazy is that??? God rawks!!No wonder the shepherds excitedly hurried to see the this little naked squiggly baby - God with skin on - Jesus!! Where they dropped down and worshiped Him!! Then jumped up and ran out to tell EVERYONE!!

"After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child." -Luke 2:17

This Christmas, let us celebrate the birth of the One who would die for ALL sin and be resurrected in triumph over death!! Let us do so just as the shepherds did: Seeing Jesus!! Worshiping Jesus!! Telling EVERYONE about Jesus!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

25 Days Of Christmas (Day 15:Getting Is Better Than Giving!!)

I know that everyone says this time of year that it is better to give than to receive...But in the case of humanity and the Gospel, that is reversed...And we should celebrate this!!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6

Notice that Jesus is not simply born...He is GIVEN!! Given to live His perfect life! Given to die His perfect death for sin! Given to raise from the dead three days later conquoring death!! Given to be our mediator!! Given to be our Savior!!

Given for the Gospel: Jesus lived a life we could not live (a sinless life), He died a death we should have died (a sinners death), He rose to give us a life we could never have otherwise (resurrected life), and He alone is the way, the truth and the life – the only way to God.

So...In the case of Christmas...It truly is better to receive than to give!! Believers Rejoice!!

"Love one another." -Jesus