That is the whole draw--or rejection--of Jesus:
Can we grant ourselves permission to be forgiven, or will we for yet another year remain stubbornly glued to our own way of doing life, pretending all is well?Perhaps, as a young kid, you ran up to your mom after school waving the permission slip that would grant you access to the fun-filled field trip just days away. Of course she said, "Yes!" It would be an important life experience.
The most powerful experience of life is the field trip that carries us to the land of:
Strangely--and tragically--we say, "No, I can't go. There is something inside me that wants to go but I just can't be that foolish, that daring, that dependent on such an outrageous idea."
Jesus is outrageous...outrageously in love with each and every one of us, and wants to take us on the field trip of a lifetime--to the state of forgiven.
Mary birthed forgiven, held forgiven, watched forgiven die agonizingly on a cross...so our field trip this Christmas could become a reality. Forgiven is God's Christmas gift made ready this very day long ago in a land far away.
It is for you. I hope you will hold out your hand (and your heart) to receive it. Merry Christmas.
Image: www.crosspoint247.com.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
