10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12)
King David wrote Psalm 51 after he slept with Bathsheba, killed her husband, and the baby that was born died. He was confronted by his prophet Nathan and his heart broke. George Bailey is heart broken at the missing money from his business. He knows he will be held responsible. As he drives from the pub to the bridge to commit suicide, he runs into a tree. Even the owner of the tree condemns him for his carelessness. Like King David, George is a broken man. The weight of guilt from the inability to be perfect is on his shoulders.
Biblical Joseph is told by the angel in his dream,
“22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ (Matthew 1:22-23)”
the baby Mary is carrying is the promised Messiah that will bring forgiveness from the burden of the law. When we know in the depths of our soul that we have blown it…yet again… and when the Evil One keeps whispering in our ear that we blew it again, Christmas reminds us that the babe was called, “Emmanuel, God is with us” and “Jesus.” which means Savior. We are forgiven and can face tomorrow. That is joy!
Perhaps there is a sin from the past that is buried with the skeletons in the closet and the Evil One loves to keep reminding you about your secret. Perhaps the label on that present of condemnation, needs to be, To: You, From: the Past… Write Forgiven, your present from God at Christmas. God is with you! Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 