You're on the Naughty List!!

So...I had a big revelation as I was driving in to work this morning.  We were listening to Christmas music and Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" came on.  As I was listening to the song....the lyrics really hit me.  It is really a pretty horrible song!!  I was thinking how absolutely blessed we are and how grateful we should be that Jesus is nothing like Santa Claus.  I mean...think about it.  Santa Claus keeps a list throughout the year of all the WRONG things you do.  Jesus, on the other hand, knows the things you will do before you ever do them, loves you anyway, and forgives you immediately.  He holds nothing against you and holds no record of all your past sins. 

The song pretty much threatens that you'd better WATCH OUT, better not pout, better not cry....all because Santa is coming to town and you want to make sure you don't miss out on the good stuff that the big guy will be handing out for free! If you are bad, cry, pout, or do anything wrong, you will automatically be put on the "naughty list" and will receive nothing from Santa.   

Wow!  I am so grateful that Jesus is the complete opposite of Santa.  With Jesus, we may cry, pout, make mistakes, fail, hurt, and have the freedom to not be "perfect".  Nothing is held against us because He gave his life for us.  In return, He gives us lots of "good stuff" every day of our lives.  We are given the gifts of mercy, grace, peace, patience, faith, freedom, comfort, courage, and LOVE.  He gives us so much more....too much for me to list.  I cannot imagine my life without Him. 

There are no good works that you can do to earn your way on the good list.  You don't have to always try your best to be perfect or be a "good little boy or girl".  We know that we are human and we will make mistakes.  We are already on the good list and our names cannot be erased no matter how many mistakes we make.  That is true freedom.  That is true love.  This is what Christmas is truly about. 

I'm so glad my Jesus isn't like Santa....