What is your favorite Christmas food? Here are my three in order:
- Ham balls.
- Ham balls.
- Ham balls.
It’s a family recipe like meatballs only with ham and pork with a sweet and sour glaze. Yummy. Problem is, nobody else in my family likes ’em as much as I do. In one way that’s great because that means “more for me.” But, in another way it makes me kind of sad that others don’t appreciate what I like as much as I do.
“To each his own” I guess.
And there’s “the problem.” The root of sin is “my way is best.” Christmas is about the birth of a Messiah. Messiah’s come to save people. We need saving because our lives are stained by this “me first” mentality.
The angel said it best in Matthew 1:20-21, …an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Everyone who encountered the first Christmas story were sinners in need of forgiveness:
- Zechariah and Elizabeth, John (the Baptist’s) parents.
- The Wise Men and their entire entourage.
- The innkeeper.
- The Shepherds.
Sinners all. Just like me and you. Except for Jesus’: 1 Peter 3:18, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”
It’s okay, you don’t have to eat Ham Balls for Christmas. Really, it’s fine. But I do want you to get “safely home to God.” For in Heaven I imagine a feast awaits that rivals any we’ve seen here below!
Prayer: “Dear God. I am a sinner, in need to forgiveness and a clear path to Heaven. Christmas is the beginning of that path for it is at Christmas we celebrate the birth of a ‘Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ Amen.”
