“She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21). “Her many sins have been forgiven–as her great love has shown. But whoever’s been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
Lord Jesus, like ancient Israel, we may have wanted/want a Messiah that would primarily bless us politically, economically, and socially. But first and foremost, you came to save us from our sins—sin’s guilt, shame, dominion, penalty, and very presence. Hallelujah!
To receive you is to be 100% forgiven, 100% robed in your righteousness, 100% yours. In fact, our Father doesn’t now love us to the degree we are like you, but to the degree we are in you… which is also 100%.
Jesus, how then shall we respond? What “gift” can we give you, this or any Christmas, today and every other day? We don’t have to guess. For you’ve taught us those who’ve been forgiven much love much. If we love little, either we don’t know you, or we’ve forgotten, ignore, minimize, or compartmentalize the astonishing reality of our forgiveness.
Jesus, Christmas 2022 is upon us. Restore our “first-love”—the love we felt from you and for you, in our first days of knowing you. Then help us love those around us—those who have failed us, and those who “miss our hearts.” Those who refuse to forgive us, and those who can’t/won’t/don’t reciprocate our love.
Keep us SO alive to your love, Jesus, we’ll be less defensive and less offensive—less likely to take things personally, and 100% more likely to take you and your love very personally. So Very Amen.