Happy Friday, everyone! I don’t know about you, but it sure seems like the entire world spends an enormous amount of energy on trying to justify wrong actions. And certainly during this season of Christmas, when everyone’s trying to figure out the naughty and nice list, there is even a more strong temptation to try and right those things that are wrong.

But the reality is, is that Jesus came at Christmas to be our Savior, to not justify our sins, but to justify us as sinners. And that’s an important distinction. Jesus didn’t come to give us excuses or stories to somehow make our sins appear less wrong. In fact, he went to a cross for those sins. That’s why he was born. That’s why he came and lived and dwelt among us.

The reality is, is that instead of spending one more moment trying to spin the story around your life, the best thing you can do to get ready for Christmas and to get ready for Jesus’s return is to simply confess. And through that repentance, by saying, “God these sins, they’re just simply wrong. I am without excuse.”

Then what you get to open up – is you get to open up the best present ever. You get to open up new life, salvation, and forgiveness from Jesus. I pray that will be your blessing as you recount that name, that name that was given to Joseph to name his son, the Son of God, Jesus, for he will save us from our sins.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we’re not only preparing to remember the first time You came, but we are anxiously looking for Your return. And as we do so, Lord, help us to simply come to You honestly with full transparency, with vulnerability, and just say to You, “We are without excuse. We are sinners. For we know that in Your kindness and in Your mercy, what You have done for us is You have delivered to us in that moment this incredible gift of forgiveness and new life and salvation.”

Be with us as we go into this weekend. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.