Friday, December 18, 2015

"God Loves Surprises"



The Salvation Army does an amazing redemptive thing all over the world. It must be Christmas time because the Salvation Army Kettles and bell ringers are out there.

Do you ever wonder what people put in these Salvation Army kettles? Many unique contributions make it into those red kettles. No, it is not just money. Often it is valuable coins, jewelry, wedding rings, earrings and watches.

God obviously loves surprises. In Jesus Christ, God took human form. The Gospel of John says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth.” That is a rip in the fabric of reason.  Why did God do that? Maybe God couldn’t watch us self-destruct? The Lord knows our alienation, estrangement, guilt, shame and sin. Reconciliation is what God wants for us. The Lord does not want a performance but a relationship. To help us he became one of us. The label was Emmanuel, “God with us.”

Grace is God’s unconditional love for those who don’t deserve it. That grace can move us from alienation to reconciliation. Only God could love us like that. Christmas began when God’s Word became flesh. Christmas continues when God’s Word becomes alive in our flesh and blood. 

Blessings, 
 

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