Grace
By Peggy Kleckner
“But God
demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
(NIV)
I know that we are in the season of
Advent, the season of waiting for Christmas. Waiting can be hard work.
When my children were younger that
was especially true. They knew that presents were being purchased. They could
feel the excitement building, the hum of secrets. Oh, they enjoyed Christmas
concerts and cookie baking, but opening presents was what they had their hearts
set on!
My mother lived in Florida and so
she would send a package for us that arrived before the actual date of
Christmas. I guess I could have made them wait until Christmas, but truly I
didn’t see the point. Why wait and let everything be discovered in one
frenzied, chaotic day?
Nope, we waited just long enough for
all of us to be together after our work and school days…then we opened our
presents! It relieved some of the waiting and I am sure my mother enjoyed the
phone call that followed. Not only did we open the gifts early, but we didn’t
wait until Christmas to call and thank her. We both - - the giver and the
receivers - - enjoyed some of Christmas early.
As I pondered the waiting of this
season, I thought to myself, “Christmas is every day!” Every morning, there is
a package waiting for me to open. Each day is a gift of His grace.
There is no waiting until I am good
enough, no waiting until I take care of that one blemish in my character. The
verse in Romans 5 reads, “while we were still sinners.”
The price for my sins is paid. There
is nothing that I need to add to it. I can’t deserve it or earn it. I do,
however, need to receive it and enjoy it.
Many of us have received the gift of
salvation. We trusted in Christ as our Savior, but now we are trying to work to
hold on to it. The work has been
done. Open the gift of grace He has for
you each day and share the joy of it!
Call out to Him and thank Him.
Christmas is every day for those who
have put their trust in Jesus. Forget
the wait, keep opening the gifts!
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Do you believe that the only joy He has for you is held on the other
side of this life? If so, would you be willing to reconsider?
2. How can you enjoy the gift of His presence
with you today?
FURTHER
READING:
Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons
and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.
