Hello Church, a Christian YouTube Channel shared the following illustration.
In one episode of the popular TV show “The Office,” two coworkers, Dwight and Andy, get into a favor battle.
Dwight comes in with bagels and when someone takes one, he smiles and says, “You owe me one.”
He’s planning to cash all these favors in, but it all comes crashing down when one of the other characters, Andy, insists on cashing favors in immediately.
Every time Dwight gives Andy something, Andy outdoes him, so it becomes a competition.
What a great illustration.
I get a laugh out of this because it reminds me how I can sometimes respond to small gifts.
Sometimes we give out of obligation and not because of grace.
We shouldn’t give for any reason other than because of love.
What happens after Christmas?
I believe we should live with a heart of Christmas.
Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “Christmas is a state of mind found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt, hope conquers despair, and love triumphs over hate.”
What a great truth!
After Jesus was born, Joseph heard a voice from the Lord saying, “Get up…take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13-14).
God was faithful to lead them to Bethlehem and God was faithful to lead them out.
Just as Numbers 28:6 says, “You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out.”
In fact for the rest of the time that Jesus was being raised, Joseph and Mary had to trust in God.
Had Joseph not done what God told him, who knows what would have happened to Jesus.
We cannot have a true Christmas without grace.
The law never has a Christmas.
The law does not like Christmas because the law is your paycheck.
Grace is Christmas.
Grace is when your boss gives you a Christmas bonus, and the law what you get every Thursday, when you get paid.
Galatians 3:11 tells us, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
No one can pay God back enough for what He has done.
I like what Pastor Joseph Prince once said, “Jesus is an overpayment for our sins.”
Christ has done so much for us, we are called to live in a state of Thanksgiving.
As we go into this New Year, let’s take time to trust on the Lord.
Remember God is faithful to be with us this next year.
Let’s not give only because we owe someone a favor.
We give because God has so blessed us!
After Jesus was born, God didn’t stop guiding Mary and Joseph.
Even after Jesus was born, God was faithful to take care of them. In our life, we must remember that God is our provider.
Let’s continue to trust in the Lord and proclaim, “Great is thy Faithfulness!”
