“Don’t swim right after you eat. Don’t sit too close to the TV. Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ Don’t run with scissors. Brush your teeth.” Ah, mom. Where’d we be w/o her? In her mind, we’d be disgusting, unsightly messes. That’s why she always gave these little reminders. And most of them are pretty good ones. While her repetition may have gotten old, we look back and appreciate her care/concern. And for you younger ones still under her roof, trust me, you will too… someday.
There’s 1 more momism we all heard, especially at Xmas. We searched the JC Penney catalog for gifts, saw them under the tree and wondered aloud what we’d get. What did mom say? “It’s better to give than _____.” From age 6 to college, my buddy called me on Xmas Eve to tell me what he got and ask what I got. My mom didn’t have to say a word.  With just a look, an ability only a mother has mastered, that Xmas phrase rang loudly in my brain: “Better to give than to receive.”

And we all know what she meant by that.  She wanted us to be content and not greedy or jealous.  That is a good thing.  But when it comes to our relationship with God, sorry mom, we are going to have to chuck your advice out the window.  Because between us and him, it is way better to receive than give.

This giving is what John focuses on in our 1 verse lesson.  One blessing after another – what does he mean?  Is he talking about the home we live in, the families we celebrate Christmas with, the skills, talents and jobs God has given us?  Is he talking about that?  Yes, he is.  These are all tremendous gifts from God.  But we dare not stop there.  Remember what we just read in the earlier part of this chapter.  We have Jesus, the Word made flesh, who came into this world.  We have Jesus, who, being true God and true man, offered himself up as payment for each and every one of our sins.  We have Jesus, who has washed us clean of that sin from head to toe.  And we have Jesus, who joins our hands with his heavenly Father and who will one day take us to be with him forever and ever.  These are the blessings upon blessings we have.

And John tells us why.  Not just because of God’s grace, but because of the fullness of his grace.  If you can’t pay your credit card 1 month, you can get a grace period. But that grace has its limits. Try telling Visa you’re not going to pay them… ever. Limited grace. God’s is not.  It is pure/full/total grace. God did not say, “I will pay for ½ your sins.  You do the rest.”  That would be partial grace.  But God didn’t show us ½ or weak grace. He showed full grace. That’s what today is about. We gather not for sentimental reasons.  Lord, help us we aren’t here just to make the wife or mom happy.  We gather not just because that’s what people do on Christmas –go to church.  We are here because we know God’s grace, his full grace.

And what joy this full grace brings. Imagine someone gave you a coupon for Christmas.  ½ off your meal next time you go to KFC.  A part of you would appreciate it, but another part would be a little annoyed.  You have to spend money just to get the food.  But what Jesus does is buys the food from the fanciest restaurant, sets a beautiful table before us, dresses us elegantly for the meal and has a spot with our name on it, a chair reserved just for us. We have to do nothing.  All we do is enjoy all the blessings upon blessings that come from him.  And they are so great, let’s list them again: our faith, our church, our family, our nation, our home, our jobs, our peace, our joy and our hope.  Because of full grace, God gives these all to us.  And he gives them because of Jesus, the one who brought us back to God. Fullness of grace indeed.

 That’s it. John says it plainly and we hear it the same. God did this for us. We, through the HS’s work, receive it.  So what are you expecting next? “Now, on account of all that, do this:  give to the poor, feed the hungry, come to church, read your Bible and be an obedient child, a loving spouse, a faithful worker and an honest friend”?  Certainly we’ll want to be all those things. God certainly calls us to be all those things. But today we’re not going to get into that. Why? So the message remains unclouded. We live in a world where everything has a price. 12 months no interest doesn’t change the fact you will pay eventually.  Favors granted will be called in.  Even the spicy food you eat demands payment –an upset stomach or heartburn.  And we understand that and live with that realization.  We always weigh the cost, what the full price will be on the back end. And at times this makes us hesitant.  “That sounds too good to be true. I better be careful.”

How sad it’d be if we think that way about what we just heard, about the fullness of God’s grace as he sent Jesus. There’s no catch, no, “I did this for you, now pay me back by doing that.” If that was the case, who could pay God back?  What’s the bill for Jesus? How many kind words would it take? How many hours in worship and study?  How many selfless acts, loving deeds and walks away from temptation would it take until he’s satisfied? We don’t know the number because the Bible gives no such number. If it did, the focus would be on us, on our giving to God, on what we do for him and what the payoff will be.

But God wants the focus to be squarely on Christ, so he sent him, gives him with no payment necessary. This is a gift, one that comes from the fullness of his grace.  So today, don’t feel guilty because God did so much for you and you’ve done so little for him. Today rejoice. What you couldn’t do was done for you. Rejoice, for there are no strings. Rejoice, for there is only grace, a grace so amazing, so divine, so powerful and so full it cleanses us completely of all sin and brings us into God’s family. Rejoice, because you have the best thing ever – you’ve received a Savior. He’s Christ the Lord.

As you head home, have a laser like focus on 1 thing: not on what you must do, pay or sacrifice. God doesn’t need that. He’s set. Have your focus on free, boundless, gloriously full grace. That we have. And receiving that’s better than anything we can give. May God’s grace be w/you always and may joyous celebration be the signature of your life due to it. Amen.

“Don’t swim right after you eat. Don’t sit too close to the TV. Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ Don’t run with scissors. Brush your teeth.” Ah, mom. Where’d we be w/o her? In her mind, we’d be disgusting, unsightly messes. That’s why she always gave these little reminders. And most of them are pretty good ones. While her repetition may have gotten old, we look back and appreciate her care/concern. And for you younger ones still under her roof, trust me, you will too… someday.
There’s 1 more momism we all heard, especially at Xmas. We searched the JC Penney catalog for gifts, saw them under the tree and wondered aloud what we’d get. What did mom say? “It’s better to give than _____.” From age 6 to college, my buddy called me on Xmas Eve to tell me what he got and ask what I got. My mom didn’t have to say a word.  With just a look, an ability only a mother has mastered, that Xmas phrase rang loudly in my brain: “Better to give than to receive.”

And we all know what she meant by that.  She wanted us to be content and not greedy or jealous.  That is a good thing.  But when it comes to our relationship with God, sorry mom, we are going to have to chuck your advice out the window.  Because between us and him, it is way better to receive than give.

This giving is what John focuses on in our 1 verse lesson.  One blessing after another – what does he mean?  Is he talking about the home we live in, the families we celebrate Christmas with, the skills, talents and jobs God has given us?  Is he talking about that?  Yes, he is.  These are all tremendous gifts from God.  But we dare not stop there.  Remember what we just read in the earlier part of this chapter.  We have Jesus, the Word made flesh, who came into this world.  We have Jesus, who, being true God and true man, offered himself up as payment for each and every one of our sins.  We have Jesus, who has washed us clean of that sin from head to toe.  And we have Jesus, who joins our hands with his heavenly Father and who will one day take us to be with him forever and ever.  These are the blessings upon blessings we have.

And John tells us why.  Not just because of God’s grace, but because of the fullness of his grace.  If you can’t pay your credit card 1 month, you can get a grace period. But that grace has its limits. Try telling Visa you’re not going to pay them… ever. Limited grace. God’s is not.  It is pure/full/total grace. God did not say, “I will pay for ½ your sins.  You do the rest.”  That would be partial grace.  But God didn’t show us ½ or weak grace. He showed full grace. That’s what today is about. We gather not for sentimental reasons.  Lord, help us we aren’t here just to make the wife or mom happy.  We gather not just because that’s what people do on Christmas –go to church.  We are here because we know God’s grace, his full grace.

And what joy this full grace brings. Imagine someone gave you a coupon for Christmas.  ½ off your meal next time you go to KFC.  A part of you would appreciate it, but another part would be a little annoyed.  You have to spend money just to get the food.  But what Jesus does is buys the food from the fanciest restaurant, sets a beautiful table before us, dresses us elegantly for the meal and has a spot with our name on it, a chair reserved just for us. We have to do nothing.  All we do is enjoy all the blessings upon blessings that come from him.  And they are so great, let’s list them again: our faith, our church, our family, our nation, our home, our jobs, our peace, our joy and our hope.  Because of full grace, God gives these all to us.  And he gives them because of Jesus, the one who brought us back to God. Fullness of grace indeed.

 That’s it. John says it plainly and we hear it the same. God did this for us. We, through the HS’s work, receive it.  So what are you expecting next? “Now, on account of all that, do this:  give to the poor, feed the hungry, come to church, read your Bible and be an obedient child, a loving spouse, a faithful worker and an honest friend”?  Certainly we’ll want to be all those things. God certainly calls us to be all those things. But today we’re not going to get into that. Why? So the message remains unclouded. We live in a world where everything has a price. 12 months no interest doesn’t change the fact you will pay eventually.  Favors granted will be called in.  Even the spicy food you eat demands payment –an upset stomach or heartburn.  And we understand that and live with that realization.  We always weigh the cost, what the full price will be on the back end. And at times this makes us hesitant.  “That sounds too good to be true. I better be careful.”

How sad it’d be if we think that way about what we just heard, about the fullness of God’s grace as he sent Jesus. There’s no catch, no, “I did this for you, now pay me back by doing that.” If that was the case, who could pay God back?  What’s the bill for Jesus? How many kind words would it take? How many hours in worship and study?  How many selfless acts, loving deeds and walks away from temptation would it take until he’s satisfied? We don’t know the number because the Bible gives no such number. If it did, the focus would be on us, on our giving to God, on what we do for him and what the payoff will be.

But God wants the focus to be squarely on Christ, so he sent him, gives him with no payment necessary. This is a gift, one that comes from the fullness of his grace.  So today, don’t feel guilty because God did so much for you and you’ve done so little for him. Today rejoice. What you couldn’t do was done for you. Rejoice, for there are no strings. Rejoice, for there is only grace, a grace so amazing, so divine, so powerful and so full it cleanses us completely of all sin and brings us into God’s family. Rejoice, because you have the best thing ever – you’ve received a Savior. He’s Christ the Lord.

As you head home, have a laser like focus on 1 thing: not on what you must do, pay or sacrifice. God doesn’t need that. He’s set. Have your focus on free, boundless, gloriously full grace. That we have. And receiving that’s better than anything we can give. May God’s grace be w/you always and may joyous celebration be the signature of your life due to it. Amen.