They really ought to warn a girl…there I was, casually watching a Hallmark movie and minding my own business, when a commercial snuck into my awareness. Most commercials are just a moment of time when I pause from TV viewing to browse on my phone. The thing is, THIS commercial was like an emotional assassin. One minute I am in a mindlessly blissful happy place filled with holiday cliches and cheesy storylines, then WHAM, suddenly I am a bit choked up.
It is all Jared’s fault. Perhaps you have seen the jewelry store TV spot? A woman holds a necklace in her hands as she shares about a man who was like a father to her. This necklace was a gift from her surrogate father figure the day he walked her down the aisle for her wedding. The moving story comes to a close as the camera slowly focuses on her face and she says, “It was the first time a father chose me as a daughter”. “a father chose me as a daughter” I was moved by this stunningly profound utterance. I am pretty certain the marketing team at Jared’s has no idea just how appropriate this line is at Christmas. I too know the joy of having a father choose me. No, I am not adopted nor is my story unique. You see we are all chosen by God.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3-6
We are God’s creation. He knew our sin would separate us from Him. The birth of Christ, his life death and resurrection, was Gods gift to us. By believing in Him and accepting Christ as savior, we can know forgiveness and grace…in Christ we can stand before God blameless. God chose us. This was the joyous news shared to the shepherds in that field just outside of Bethlehem. God had sent His greatest gift, Jesus Christ as a way for all of mankind to be reconciled to Him. Truly good news of great Joy!
“And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10&11
Tuesday With Teri 