The Free Gift of Grace

Merry Christmas! I am typing on my grandfather's laptop in Florida, enjoying the 80 degree weather and bright sun on my skin. There is no Christmas tree (unless you count the fake palm tree), no stockings over the fireplace (there isn't one) and certainly no snow. There is nothing that even hints it is a special day, or something worth celebrating about. But that's not what Christmas is all about. As much as marketing companies tell you it's about Santa, cookies, presents, snow, lights, Christmas ham and sweet potatoes, it's not. At least, that's not what it was originally for. It's sad that our society has turned Christmas day into a secular holiday for purchasing as much stuff as you can. A holiday that even atheists celebrate and nonbelievers believe in Santa Claus. Even those who call themselves Christian, or even are followers of Christ, fail to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. We fail to remember why we gather-whether it be in a warm house surrounded by snow, or in the warm sun under a palm tree. Presents are nice. Sweet potatoes are yummy. But why do exchange gifts and eat a feast? Certainly it's not just another ordinary day! No. It might take some thinking, but I encourage you to look deeper each Christmas-learning just why we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

Could you describe the purpose of Christmas, of Christ coming into this world in the form of a baby boy, in simply one word? Well, it's not presents, or anything mentioned above. Lately I've been spending some time digging deeper. Every Christmas it's the same story: I try so hard to not forget Christ, and then end up getting caught up in the season. I remember when I was a little girl, I would spring out of my bed Christmas morning and race downstairs, a smile on my face, dreaming of presents galore! Now, it's different. I'm too mature for childish presents like Barbies. I'm growing up. And so it my enthusiasm for Christmas. Nothing really satisfies. No matter how much stuff you get, there's always a time when it's over. There's always a point where you get tired of your toys and want more. We always want more.

This Christmas season I spent some time reading God's word, listening to sermons, and hearing various messages. The same message kept on being repeated to me, and I knew God was talking to me. I can simplify the Christmas story and purpose in one word: grace. Why did Jesus come? To defeat sin and save our souls. How does this occur? Through grace. We don't deserve this gift! In fact, it's far more valuable than gold, yet God offers it to us free. They say the best things in life are priceless. This is the best gift, and it's free of charge. Although I love the classic Christmas story presented in Luke, it's overstated and I've heard it many times. I believe the best passage for digging deeper on Christmas is in Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:1-10

" ¹As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

How wonderful is our God! That He would offer us His free gift of grace. We don't get into heaven through works-by doing "good" things. In fact, none of our works would even come close to God's standard. He's perfect, and we know how sinful we are. I guess I should clarify first, what grace is. There are (as always) multiple definitions of grace. My favorite, and the most appropriate (according to dictionary.com) is this: "the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God." We don't deserve it. That's why it's called grace! He sent Jesus to accomplish that-amazing grace, as said so perfectly by the song. It truly amazes me every time I hear of God's unfailing love. Why would the God of the universe, who created the stars and everything we know, choose to send His son to a sinful world, and give us the free gift of grace? Can you just imagine God in the form of a baby? Humbly lying in a manger? He could have come as anything-but He came just as we come. Jesus didn't come as he deserved, and He came to give us something we don't deserve. That's grace.


Now, I know I suffer from "short-term memory loss," as Dory would put it from Finding Nemo. In other words, it's hard to remember God's grace and all that he's done for us. Christmas day is one day out of the year created to remember Him, but it seems like even that doesn't accomplish much. Even then, we should reflect on Christ every day of the year (all 365 of them!). At least for now, I can leave you with this a candy cane. Have you ever heard the symbolic purpose of a candy cane? When turned the "normal" way (right side up), it is a cane made to resemble a shepherd's staff. You can think of God as being the ultimate shepherd because He herds us, the lost sheep. Jesus is also called the Lamb of God. When turned upside down, the candy cane transforms into the letter J. J is for Jesus and the hope that He brings. The colors on a candy cane also contain symbolic meaning. The red signifies the blood Jesus shed on the cross. When you lick a candy cane, the red stripes disappear, a way to remember how Jesus' blood wipes away our sin and we become white like snow. What a handy way to reflect on God's amazing grace!


Since you're probably sick of Christmas songs by now, I will share two songs about grace (I'm assuming you are familiar with Amazing Grace). Matthew West sings a song called "Only Grace" and Krystal Meyers (one of my absolute favorite artists!) has a song called "Beauty of Grace."


-Palm tree picture, grace picture, and candy cane picture found on Google





I wish you all a very merry Christmas! I pray that you'll yearn to dig deeper this Christmas and experience God's truly amazing grace. It's the reason Jesus was born-that's why we celebrate the King's birth! :) God bless you all.

-Love, Bubbly <><