Category: Forgiven

Do you have a special Christmas Day tradition? Our family tradition since I was a child has been to gather together as the extended family to enjoy some nyama choma (roast meat). We used to get together at my grandparents’ place, but now we rotate venue between my siblings and me.  And this year’s Christmas get together was held at our place. 

My big concern as the day drew closer was on the preparation and post-cleanup. You know what it’s like when everyone leaves, and you have to deal with a sink overflowing with dirty dishes, an unclean floor, and messy living room? I’m happy to report that the Lord graciously gave strength and enthusiasm for all this. So much so that on the 26th of December, I was nowhere near as tired as I expected to be. All glory to God! 

Speaking of the 26th, a friend sent a belated Christmas card that mentioned cherished Christmas memories. As I read the card, my heart sank a little. It sank because I couldn’t help but wish that I had recent Christmas memories that I could treasure. You see, since I turned away from celebrating Christmas as a non-believer, to celebrating Christmas with understanding that it’s all about Jesus, I seem to end up with Christmas scars instead of gifts. I cannot remember the last time I had pleasant memories from Christmas Day. 

There seems to always be that one family member who is out to inflict pain or elicit offence in me, unprovoked. And I must confess that I have sometimes responded in ways that I’m not proud of. Which then makes me feel terrible because I know that I am not being the best representative of Christ, and yet my (many) unbelieving family members need to see the gospel in action.

As I reflect on this Christmas, I am reminded of God’s kindness to us in giving us His righteousness purely by His grace, and through faith. I am a child of God, and have eternal life because Jesus bore our sins, and I believe that He covered over all my sin. I am not born again because I do or say the right things. Isn’t this wonderful? I never tire of hearing this good news!

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” 
Romans 3:23—24 (NIV)

So, if you picked up a scar yesterday, or perhaps inflicted the scars, take heart! Your righteousness is a free gift from God. You didn’t earn it, and at your request, God is willing to help you become more and more like Jesus, and heal your scars. 

However, if you haven’t received this free gift yet, all you have to do is ask!

What good news!  

Not so long ago, when there was a public interest court-case in progress, the public could only keep track through courthouse photos and articles in the newspapers. Today, thanks to social media, we can actually follow the entire case from the comfort of our sofas. How life has changed!

Now it so happens that today is one of those days when I’m following a court case on social media. The accused person has a team of some of the best legal minds in Kenya. And as I watch the proceedings, I find my mind drifting away from the screen . . . 

I observed that the accused is quietly seated, while the lawyers speak on his behalf. The lawyers are referring to evidence from the prosecution, various sections of our law, and a previous judgment that is in support of their client’s innocence. And the judge is listening carefully as the lawyers as advance their arguments. 

My mind then strayed to a verse in the Bible, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1 NIV) Instantly it became clear to me that Jesus’s role as my Advocate is to speak on my behalf, before the Righteous Judge, to counter accusations levelled against me by the accuser (aka satan).   

In pleading my case, I imagine Jesus states that because I have confessed Him as Lord & Saviour, His blood has covered all my sins and made me righteous in God’s eyes. I can “see” Jesus cite verses such as Romans 8:1 which says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) And “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NIV)

So, on the basis of Jesus’s blood shed on the cross, my confession and belief in Him as my Saviour, the Righteous Judge issues a verdict proclaiming me innocent and nullifying satan’s accusations against me. No wonder, the message Jesus brings is called the good news! 

But this good news doesn’t give us a permit to live in any manner that we please, simply because we know we are already forgiven. As it says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2 NIV) 

The only fitting response from us is to fall more in love with Jesus and voluntarily live as He did, with God’s word at the centre of our lives!