L.A.W. Fulfilled in the Christmas Presence

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

~ Matthew 5:17-18

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we kept before us the Christmas Presence always....if we were aware at all times of this Glorious Presence that goes before us?  

Yes, this play on words evokes for me a glorious image of the Undeserved Presence we are blessed with everyday of the year.

And in return, our gift to Him for His year-long Presence would be to beautify our own presence in this sin-stained world by loving others as He loves us.  Sanctified, Baby!

Isn't it quite comical (uh, er...rather sheepish) that when we get wrapped up in ourselves, worry and pride move in to destroy us?  Yet, when we wake up each morning with the intent to WRAP OURSELVES IN THE CHRISTMAS PRESENCE, our adornment is truly becoming of Whose we are...and shalom and humility adorn us!

As we say in the South, 'Now, that's perrrty!'

How do we even begin?

More than two thousand years ago, in a land not so far away, the Jewish Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) fulfilled perfectly the law given to the Israelites. HE brought completion - a wholeness - to something that had been distorted, incomplete and grossly perverted.

Might it be that we who have the Blessed Christmas Presence with us also have the tendency to distort the law with legalistic, unloving attitudes of what is right...instead of what is righteous?

What are we saying, without saying, to a lost world as we fill our shopping carts and rush through aisles of people at the local shopping mart? What are we saying (what are we feeling?) as we fly through the streets of highly strung Christmas lights and garlands with large bows wrapped around light poles weaving our way in and out of traffic?

Have you thought about it?  Have we stopped to consider The Presence that goes before us, that surrounds and sustains us?

What are we saying?

Aha!  That must be where the 'acknowledging Him in all our ways' DEMAND (strong word! but oh, so necessary) begins to turn our lives right side up!

Paul said to the Romans and Galatians:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ~ Romans 13:8-10

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Galatians 5:14

James’ sentiments were identical (James 2:8).

If you truly attain the goal of Kingdom Torah, in conformity with the passage that says, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

Have you done well today?  

ADONAI, have I?

In real life, what might our daily commission look like if it were enveloped in His command?

Perhaps it looks like this...

• L- LOVING Generously the sinner in Christ Jesus.
  
• A - ACCEPTING Genuinely the sinner through Christ Jesus.
  
• W - WELCOMING Graciously the sinner to Christ Jesus.
  

Remember what it felt like the first time you realized your Father in Heaven passionately loved you in this way?

Do you even know that?

Well, HE loves you so much that HE gave all...namely, HIS Son.

He gave to us the ULTIMATE-of-all-time-presents...

The Christmas Presence!

I pray you receive IT, open IT and keep IT with care.

I pray you walk in IT and thus fulfill the L.A.W. of Christ for yourselves, giving away Christmas Presence everywhere you go!

Shalom aleichem, dear Sisters, as you celebrate the Blessed Christmas Presence everyday of the year, walking as He walked in the coming new year, and watching your love and trust increase exponentially as you hold tightly His hand through prayer.