Leave the Empty Boxes Behind. Advent Readings by Lynne Modranski, #19

Every toddler loves to play with empty boxes. They receive grand gifts, the toy of every child's dreams, and still we find them sitting in the cardboard. What if I told you our spiritual lives mimic the antics of those three-year olds? Romans 5:15-17 says15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! This Advent season, I want to focus on the true gift. As children of the Most High King, it's time to throw away the boxes and give up frolicking in the wrapping paper and bows.
Join me as I leave behind the childish practice of playing with the packaging and enjoy the peace and love found only in the Almighty's most amazing Gift.