Skip to main content

This Christmas

There is a company out there that can give you all of the information about a used car before you buy it. You can see if it has been in an accident and how often it was serviced. They will even identify the locations where the car was purchased. It seems you can see just about everything from this report.

Some car dealerships proudly boast that they only sell cars that are accident free. I'm not sure what they do with the used cars that have been in an accident. It's hard to believe that a car that was broken on the outside then repaired would not be acceptable. They clearly take cars that were and may still be broken on the inside. 

This Christmas I find myself thankful that it doesn't work the same with God as it does with cars. Whether we are broken on the inside, outside, or both God accepts us. I'll take it a step further, He pursues us and goes to great lengths to be near to us. He sent his only son to live as we live, face temptations as we do, and die the way we deserve to die. He later overcame death and defeated it soundly. All because He loves us and wants us.

I think if we all had one of these automobile reports run on us we'd find that each of us has been in a wreck. Many of us have had a few. Some of the damage is completely unseen, covered by a facade of fake smiles and pleasantries. For others the scars from those wrecks can be easily seen. 

God's car lot accepts and searches for the broken and beaten up. He doesn't stop there. He takes what once was broken and he makes it new through his son, Jesus Christ. We celebrate his entrance as a baby into this world and we are made new as his story progresses to hang on a cross, pass through a tomb, and finally taking the throne with His Father. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

This Christmas, know you have been made new when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He has already paid the price. Simply receive the gift of a forever changed by a God who loves you more than you will ever fully understand.  

Merry Christmas!
Matt

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do the Work

Sometimes I sit down to write and it just seems like I am trying to write with a pen without ink. There is simply nothing productive coming from the activity. Other times, God just pours it out on me. The ideas flow and the message comes together with ease. More often than not it's the former rather than the latter. It seems God likes to make us work for it. The ones I have to work a bit harder on become the ones I like the most. I think we appreciate the things we have to work for more than the things that come easy. Our LifeGroup recently read about the Miraculous Catch of Fish. You know the story where Peter and his buddies have been out fishing all night and came back to shore completely empty handed. That next morning, Jesus asks them to take him out in the boat. Once out on the water, He has them put the nets back down and they bring in loads and loads of fish. So many fish that two boats almost sank.  I guess Jesus could have just made the fish jump into th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Welcome Children

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." - Matthew 18:1‭-‬5 NIV This past Sunday was simply life-giving at Westside Christian Church. The energy and excitement were palatable. My daughter couldn't wait to get to church. She was excited to worship with her friends and have fun together afterwards.   With the VBS takeover, the church was packed! Sure there were a few seats open, but there was a line of people standing in the back. It is safe to say it was "standing room only". Fitting with the story of Zacchaeus that Pastor Russ shared.   Jes...
Post a Comment
Read more