Psalm 85:10
It used to bother me when Christmas was written as Xmas until I realised that in a way the ‘X’ or ‘Kiss’ of Christmas time is the whole reason we can celebrate!
Luke 15: 20-24
But when he was a still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, ran and fell on his neck and KISSED him.
…the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be MERRY, for this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be MERRY.
This story above about a Father and son was told by Jesus to the people and teachers who had gathered around to hear Him speak. Jesus describes the immense love our Heavenly Father has for us, His children who were once far off from Him. The Father continually looks out for his son to return home…seeing him when he was still a great way off, looking out for him with a heart of love and compassion. The son had sinned against his Father, but even BEFORE he had a chance to ask for His Father’s forgiveness, the father ran to him and kissed him. Their re-union, the celebration Jesus says of the son who was once DEAD and is now ALIVEis the reason BOTH our Heavenly Father and us, His deeply loved children can be MERRY!
Romans 5:17
For if by the one man’s [Adam’s] offense DEATH reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of GRACE and of the gift of righteousness will reign in LIFE through the one Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:13-14
And you being dead in your trespasses…He has made ALIVE together with Him, HAVING FORGIVEN you ALL trespasses, having WIPED OUT the handwriting of requirements [the Law] that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it [the Law] out of the way, having NAILED it to the cross.
Ephesians 2: 4-5
But God, who is rich in MERCY, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were DEAD in trespasses, made us ALIVE together with Christ (by GRACE you have been saved).
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.
The Bible explains that death has reigned, or had dominion over all our lives since Adam and we are all dead in our trespasses according to God’s perfect and holy law. We all need saving from the effects of death in this life, a less than healthy and prosperous life; and saving from eternal separation from God beyond this life. (John 10:10) Because God our Heavenly Father loves us so much and because He is a perfectly righteous and holy God, He was able to fulfil both LOVE and the LAW through His Son, Jesus Christ, at the cross.
Psalm 85:10
Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.
The truth of God’s love and grace that came by Jesus to a dying world, met with mercy at the tree where Jesus took our place of death. God’s righteousness in needing to judge the trespasses of sin was completely satisfied at the cross, such that God could remove the law that was against us, contrary to us. (Colossians 2:13-14)With the law being removed, death conquered and no more trespasses between us and God, we now have PEACE with God. His righteousness and peace with man KISSED at the cross!
Christmas is celebrated as a time of peace and joy. If there is little around you at this time and the holidays are more of a stressful over a peaceful time, see Jesus as your truly greatest gift. His is the perfectly-wrapped free gift given for right-standing with God forever! May your heart find true peace in knowing that all sin debt to God has been removed at the cross.
God cannot wait to ‘Kiss’ you and embrace you with His heart full of love and compassion for you! Christ is the reason for the season; He is the reason we can be MERRY with our Heavenly Father!
Have a very Merry Christmas and KISSmas!
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