Christmas Comfort And Redeeming Grace
Wednesday December 16, 2015
The Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. (Isaiah 49:13b, Psalm 119:176 NIV)
Christmas is almost here. People travel from one end of the country to the other to be with family members during this special time. Caring and supportive family relationships are God’s plan for all of us. Within the safety and comfort of God’s unfailing love for us, we were meant to have the strength and love that would enable us to develop sound and trusting relationships in our family circle and with our friends. However, for many of us memories that trouble our hearts begin to surface as we anticipate Christmas gatherings. Our comfort level goes down as we think on things that happened to us in the past. Things that may have been done to us, and things we may have done to others. God knows all about our troubles and cares about each of us. If we ask Him to, He will make perfect that which concerns us.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT)
This Christmas God offers each of us the gifts of forgiveness, acceptance, tenderness, and comfort. We have a choice today whether or not we will receive and share these gifts with our family. The famous carol “Silent Night” points us in this direction with the lyrics about redeeming grace: Silent night, Holy night. Son of God, Loves pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus Lord at thy birth. Jesus Lord at thy birth.
Jesus came to earth to die in our place so that our sins could be forgiven and our relationship with God restored. When we realize how much we have been forgiven, we will choose not to withhold forgiveness of others. As we have been forgiven and filled with God’s grace, we then can generously give forgiveness and grace to others. The birth of Jesus truly was the dawn of redeeming grace!
GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to GOD’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. GOD rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. (Psalm 18:20-24 MSG)
As we prepare for Christmas and family gatherings, let’s invite God to heal us in those places that still hurt and use us to bring healing to others. Let’s invite God to continue to build faith and trust and comfort in us and give Him all the glory that we are not where we once were.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8 NKJV)
©2015 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca/resources
Audio for Christmas Comfort And Redeeming Grace
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.