Our family is from the Midwest. Oklahoma to be exact. We seem aloof at times and unfriendly but those are inaccurate portrayals of our clan. We are independent and stalwart. Some might say stubborn. But regardless of what label you use, we love and we love deeply.
You can imagine the culture shock we experienced when we moved to the Deep South. Everyone speaks to everyone they pass on the street. A hug is not an unusual greeting. So something unusual happened this Christmas. My 86 year old father bought my mom jewelry. Not costume jewelry (which she loves, by the way) but real diamonds. My 85 year old mother jumped to her feet and ran (well, moved quicker than usual) to dad and kissed him!
I asked mom if dad was officially off the naughty list and she said he was. He made it to the good list. As heartwarming as this story may be, aren’t you glad that once we are on God’s good list we stay there? He promises that when our name is in the book of Life it won’t be blotted out. Diamonds won’t get us there. Only a declaration of belief in Jesus, who came to save the world. Acts 4:12 states: and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. As beautiful as diamonds are, this gift came with a price…Jesus’ blood was shed for us all.
Get off that naughty list once and for all. Make sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It costs nothing because it cost Christ everything.
Adopted Through Grace 