Advent 2020 (day 17 of 26)

December 15, 2020

 

Advent 2020, day 17 of 26.

 

It’s never too late. I’ve always had hope that were there is life, there is hope. Still, there seems like times and people who really don’t deserve to be saved, eh? That’s the point of mercy (not getting what we deserve) and grace (getting what we do NOT deserve).

 

On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s witness is recorded by Luke. After accusing the crowd of having a hand in the death of Jesus, Peter states, “Brothers and sisters, I know you acted in ignorance. So did your rulers.” [Acts 3:17 CEB] We can be hurt by others, but the reality is these actions are done in ignorance. Failure to forgive betrays the question of if we ourselves are saved. Judging others betrays the darkness in our own heart.

 

They acted in ignorance. How many times have we offended others, in ignorance? But wait, there’s more! Our ignorance is not just random thoughtlessness… in it all God has a plan that will be accomplished. Peter declares, “But this is how God fulfilled what he foretold through all the prophets: that his Christ would suffer.” [Acts 3:18 CEB]

 

But this does not relieve us of our responsibility. Peter continued, “Change your hearts and lives! Turn back to God so that your sins may be wiped away.” [Acts 3:19 CEB] I like the translation, “change your hearts and lives” because we tend to reduce “repent” to some sort of changing of the mind. As James puts this, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” [James 2:17 NLT]

 

Peter follows the promise of having our negative record wiped away with desire of every follower of Jesus. “Then the Lord will provide a season of relief from the distress of this age and he will send Jesus, whom he handpicked to be your Christ.” [Acts 3:20 CEB] This is a two part promise. Relief (refreshment) from the current distress and the eventual sending of Jesus.

 

Christmas does provide relief and refreshing after a long year. It is the spark of hope as the days start to grow longer. It is celebration in the face of distress. Our world is under a lot of stress. We are truly distressed. We have lived through a year of fear, anger, and confusion. The inconsistency, the alternative proposed realities, and the outright lies have drained us.

 

God (the Father) sent us a miracle under distress, in the darkest times. Peter points to the event that changes everything, “After God raised his servant, he sent him to you first—to bless you by enabling each of you to turn from your evil ways.” [Acts 3:26 CEB] God (the Father) raised Jesus… this results in a blessing. We can escape from the slavery or our evil ways.

 

Christmas is a blessing. Not only is Jesus raised from the dead but we are turned from our evil ways. This happens with Christmas, Easter, and the eventual return of Jesus.