PASKONG KAY SAYA! What Makes Christmas Really MerrySample

Day 3: The Merry Message of Christmas

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

Ask a Filipino what their plans are for the Christmas holidays and it will almost always include reunions. Christmas is that time of the year when airports and transport terminals are packed with people wanting to come home to their towns and provinces. With the long breaks that come with the season, it’s no wonder that we use this time to reconnect and reunite with our families.

Speaking of family, Jesus hails from a very interesting line of people. Three names immediately stand out when we read His genealogy: the great fathers of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 1:2). But a closer look reveals more names: Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, and Salmon (v. 3-5). All of whom are unpopular and mostly unfamiliar. And if we dig even deeper, four unlikely names will emerge: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (v.3, 5-6). Unlikely because aside from being women, they also had troublesome backgrounds. Tamar was a widow who disguised herself as a prostitute (read Genesis 38), Rahab was a real prostitute (read Joshua 2), Ruth was a widow and a foreigner (read the book of Ruth), and Bathsheba was well, the Bathsheba with whom David forcibly slept with (read 2 Samuel 11).

What an odd mix of people, right? But perhaps God was making this point when He chose this motley group of men and women to be Jesus’ earthly ancestors: Everyone is welcome in the family of God. Not just the popular, but also the ordinary and even those called misfits by society.

If you’re one of those who’ve heard the Christmas message but thought, Does God really love the whole world? Did Jesus really come to suffer and die for someone like me? Take alook at Jesus’ genealogy again. If a nobody like Ram and a sinner like Rahab can be part of God’s family, then you too can. All of us can. Because of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

What a wonderful gift that we don’t have to do great things or be great before we can be saved! That’s the merry message of Christmas. Now the only question is: Will we accept His gift of grace?

In what ways do you feel unworthy of God’s love? How does knowing that God’s grace is for everyone change your perspective?

Ever gracious God, thank You for loving me, flaws and all. I accept Your gift of grace and from now on promise to walk in Your ways.