Makin' a List

He's makin' a list. He's checkin' it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming' to town.  He knows if you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. 

Based upon this song here's how Santa operates. If you're on the nice list you get toys. If you on the naughty list you get coal.  In other words your gifts are based upon your works. You only get what you merit. You have to earn your presents.  

I'm so glad God doesn't operate like Santa. God has a naughty list too, and all of us are on it (Romans 3:23). Despite our sinful condition God has offered us the gift of eternal thru Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). We don't merit it. We can't earn it. We certainly don't deserve it. But God offers it to us anyway (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Through faith in Jesus Christ we are put on God's good/nice list called the book of life (Philippians 4:3).  We make the list not because we are good, but because Jesus is good.  We should be good for goodness sake - our life should be filled with good works (Ephesians 2:10) not to gain eternal life but because we already have it.

So, during this Christmas season as we're threatening to take away your kids gifts (which we never do by the way) when they misbehave, don't forget that God offers you the greatest gift ever given in-spite of your naughtiness.