THE SETUP
"I don't know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
“Bah, Humbug!” That’s Scrooge’s take on Christmas, the holiday season, and just about anything else. While everyone else is getting excited about celebrating with family and friends, Scrooge sees it as a distraction that’s keeping him from doing more business and gaining more wealth. A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, is one of the great Christmas classic stories and has been made into a movie many, many times.
In the story, Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts – the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The Future shows him the end of his life and how miserable it will be (people are literally dancing in the streets when he dies). Scrooge is despondent and wishes for another chance, but the Ghose of Christmas Future offers none. But that’s not the end of the story. It’s all a dream, and Ebenezer wakes up on Christmas very alive and changed. He is a new man with a second chance, and he is full of joy.
As we anticipate the birth of Christ during the Advent season, we celebrate because Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have given us a second chance at life as well. In John 3, Jesus calls it, “being born again.” In the book of Romans, Paul says we were “dead in our sins” but Jesus has given us new life. Talk about a reason for joy! Because of Jesus’ birth, we can experience new life. May your holiday season be full of joy as you consider the great gift Christ has given to you – and to anyone who puts their faith and trust in him.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
If you had Scrooge’s experience, seeing not just your past and present, but also your future, how do you think it would affect you? Would you want to know those things?
In Romans 4, who does Paul say should experience joy? Why?
Does our text describe righteousness as something we earn or as a gift? What impact does that have on you?
PRAYER IDEA
“Jesus – thank you for the gift of new life. In Psalms, David wrote, ‘restore to me the JOY of your salvation.’ Help me to rejoice and find joy in the gift of salvation you have given to me. May that gift be the focus of my Christmas this year. In your name, amen.”