“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3

Ahhhhhhh Christmas! Just a couple weeks away now! And if you haven’t jumped on the ‘get ready’ train, the time is NOW! I have been thinking about this very special time of year a lot lately. Having booked 6+ decades under my belt, I thought I knew everything there was to know about this holiday. But alas…. No!!

Growing up as a kid I had the opportunity to see some really incredible explanations for things no one had yet defined. Cartoons and movies explained things like the North Pole, Reindeer, Santa down a chimney, the 24 hour toy dismemberment system and…elves! But THIS year I am left with a conundrum that I CANNOT explain. It concerns “Elf on a Shelf!”

I have gone to the experts… in this case moms…and none have been able to explain this hypocrisy to me either. But I can say for certain, that if MY brain has figured it out, you can be sure that your KIDS have too. The conundrum? If it is the duty of “Elf on a Shelf” to report bad behavior to Santa, how is it that HE gets to be naughty? How can something meant for good… be so BAD? Well…The same can be said of the 10 (plus a LOT more) commandments!

The originators of “Elf on a Shelf” in 2004 did NOT include being naughty as part of its character. That came about by human nature. Some mom may have had a little nip before bed and began thinking too much! We don’t know. But we’re stuck with the 2 headed monster now! The Commandments are perfect example of the same principle. Perfect rules for being perfect do not MAKE us perfect! They only point out the fact that… we are NOT!

The Bible is clear. We have God’s perfect standard and are required to live it! But we don’t! The LAW, like the Elf, CLEARLY PROVES what we REALLY are! Failed…imperfect…SINNERS! And what do sinners need? Ahhhh Yes… A SAVIOR!!! Which, interestingly enough, is the REAL reason for this Holy time of year as our loving God sent His WONDERFUL gift to a bunch of failures!         Merry CHRISTmas!

Have YOU received His Gift of Forgiveness?