“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18
Imagine for a moment, an angry father receives a phone call–the call he’s been dreading! His son is in jail… again! This time he’s furious. This time his child has finally done it. How long should he let him stay in there? Maybe he should leave him in there permanently. Still, it IS his own son! Angrily, he calls a bail bondsman. This time, however, things will be different. He walks into the courthouse, pays the money and signs the forms like usual, but this time he adds one small detail. He leaves a note with the sergeant…
——————- To: My Son
I’ve bailed you out for the last time. I also paid for the damage you did as well–Your debt is paid. I don’t ever want to see you again… you are no longer my son.
——————
He leaves the note unsigned.
As tragic as this story is, it’s unfortunately the view far too many Christians have of God. For some, they know God paid a penalty they couldn’t pay–they understand their sins are forgiven, but they somehow think God is off doing His own thing now, He wants nothing to do with them. For others, they don’t even know the Lord. They never knew someone came to bail them out. There was a mix-up, and they’re still doing hard time. They are either trying to prove their innocence, working hard to show the parole board what a good example they set now, or they are working hard to pay their own debt. In any case, all these images of Christ–of our heavenly Father–are incorrect. He didn’t pay the bail at all. He Himself was shackled, serving the time for us! The debt has been paid in full, and now He wants to know us. We’re the lost sheep God loved so much that He sent His own Son to the Cross. Friends, the message of Christmas is clear. God is with us! If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then accept Him as your Lord… and as your friend! If you haven’t asked Him to pay your debt, then ask Him. His message is a message of reconciliation… He wants to take you home for Christmas!
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself not counting men’s sins against them.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-9a
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er Jim@JamesKilby.com
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