Day 23 — Reaching

Think for a moment about how it feels when a loved one holds out their arms and reaches toward you for a hug. Even if you aren’t one for a lot of physical affection, it likely feels welcoming, safe and comforting.

That is what God was doing on the first Christmas—the day Jesus was born. He was reaching out to you with loving arms and welcoming you into the safety of salvation, deliverance, healing and an invitation to spend eternity with Him. You don’t have to be perfect to receive this gift from God, just willing. 

If you’re already born again, the same is true. You didn’t have to be perfect to receive salvation, so why would you think you have to be perfect to receive anything else from Him? Yes, obedience to His Word and faith set spiritual laws in motion and bring great blessings, but perfection and certainly not a checklist of outward actions, are not the prerequisites. 

God looks at the heart. If you are tithing; attending church; and avoiding certain food, drink or media; prophesying and speaking in tongues; but you are judgmental, critical or just plain mean, your outward actions don’t mean anything in God’s book (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Likewise, if you have some areas that need correcting, but your heart desires to please God and love others, He is there to help you grow and mature in Him. He doesn’t have an impossible measuring stick. 

No matter where you are today, Jesus is reaching out to you. He’s waiting to walk through this life with you and lead you into more abundant life. Are you bringing Him with you?

If there are any feelings of unworthiness in your life, this Christmas is the time to get rid of them and remember the lyrics of the song “Reaching”:

His love reaches right past the shackles of your mind.

The Word of the Father became Mary’s little son

And His love reached all the way to where I was.

His love will reach all the way to where you are. He’s been reaching all along. God, who formed the world with His own hands, is reaching for you this Christmas. Run into His loving arms, and receive what Jesus came to give!