By Pastor Pam Seebach
Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches
As children, many of our parents used the threat of “Santa Claus is watching!” when they were trying to keep our behavior in line. Santa Claus saw the “good” little girls and boys and prepared presents for them, while the “bad” little girls and boys received lumps of coal. Unfortunately, some of this “watch-and-reward” transitioned with us into our perception of God: we began to think God sees what we’re doing and rewards or punishes appropriately.
The Bible tells us differently, however. Psalm 139, for example, recounts the psalmist’s prayer: “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. …Every moment, you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it.” (Psalm 139:1-4, The Living Bible) Okay, you might think, God AND Santa Claus are watching every minute! But here’s the difference: God cares enough to love us through the “good” and the “bad!” “This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God!” (139:6-7, Italics in original) So, we know that as humans we can’t help but sin (that’s the “bad” part), but God knows and STILL loves us! “If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day.” God’s love overcomes the darkness!
One way God overcame the darkness was by sharing the Son with us: Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. So, if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.” (John 8:12, The Living Bible) Isn’t it great to realize we have a God who loves us so much that even though we are sinful creatures (i.e., naughty children!) Jesus walks with us every day, casting light on our path through life?!? The psalmist exclaimed, “How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me.” This is the loving God who created and cares for YOU.
Let’s each of us, right now, just stop for 30 seconds and say, “Thank you, God! Thank you for loving me so much!” With the psalmist, we can say without fear, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (139:23-24) God will love us and care for us no matter what – only gifts, no coal! Merry CHRISTmas!