On Christmas Day it is a custom to give enjoyable presents to loved ones. But it is a blessing which God gives us in order that we may be with Him in His house of many mansions. And the blessedness of Christmas is also that which God takes away from us. For what He takes from us, namely, our guilt, makes that dwelling with Him in glory possible.
We need to have our guilt removed by the blotting out of our sins. Therefore our Christmas must be a day wherein we praise God's name and thank Him for the work of His grace that sent His Son to be our Savior. It must also be a day wherein we do this for His mercy, as Mary said to Elisabeth when she visited her, "And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation." (Luke 1:50)
Now mercy is kindness, compassion, pity, tenderness. We sinners certainly need that, because Adam, the first man in the human race, brought guilt upon the whole human race. From Adam we received those totally depraved natures that add sin to sin all the days of our lives.
On Christmas we must remember how guilty we are in Adam, and because of our own sinful walk of life. Our guilt must be taken from us in order that blessings may be given unto us.
At Christmas, but also every day in our lives, we must come to God with thankfulness for His mercy as well as for the gifts of His grace. Take note of the fact that God's mercy is "on them that fear Him." This means that it is only on the believers. For to fear God is to believe that He alone is God, and that Christ is His Son come into our flesh.
If you have that fear, that awesome respect and trust in God, you may be sure that He sent His Son to take away your guilt, and to bring you to everlasting blessedness in His kingdom of heaven. His sending of His Son opened the way for His blotting out of our guilt. Christ's coming in our flesh made it possible for us to come with Him into heavenly glory.
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Zechariah 4; Zechariah 5:1-11
Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23
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Quote for Reflection:
Belgic Confession, Article 25, "Of the Abolishing of the Ceremonial Law:" "We believe, that the ceremonies and figures of the law ceased at the coming of Christ, and that all the shadows are accomplished; so that the use of them must be abolished amongst Christians; yet the truth and substance of them remain with us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have their completion. In the meantime, we still use the testimonies taken out of the law and the prophets, to confirm us in the doctrine of the gospel, and to regulate our life in all honesty, to the glory of God, according to his will."
Additional Info
- Date: 23-December
