It
is Christmas season. If you are a
Filipino like me, you probably have attended your third Christmas party by now
and there are more coming up. That’s just how we roll.
In
the Philippines, Christmas parties always have ‘Exchange gifts’ (a.k.a. kris
kringle) in the program. It's a
highlight.
You
bring a gift. They bring theirs, then the exchange. Sometimes you are assigned a person to
exchange with; sometimes you get to pick the gift you want.
I remember those times in my elementary school when I get the chance to pick the gift that I want, I usually go for the bigger, heavier and nicely wrapped ones. But every time I do, I always end up (to my dismay) getting a ceramic figurine. Those would have been nice if I were a grown-up woman (no offense to grown up women, peace to all mankind!) but I was a little boy for crying out loud! I just wanted something colorful and flashy and something I can play with (by play I mean destroy eventually), that’s all.
And
so to say that I lost my childhood excitement for the ‘exchange’ gift program
was an understatement. After all, I always get the losing hand in the deals.
Then
in college, I encountered this different kind of exchange.
"Come to Me, all who
are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR
YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NASB Matthew
11:28-30)
This
totally changed everything. Jesus spoke
about a kind of exchange that reserves the better hand of the deal to us. He invites us to exchange OUR
burden for HIS burden - our effort to be
righteous for His righteous nature; our quest for justification through
fulfilling the requirements of the law in exchange for his finished work at the
cross.
An
easy yoke, a burden that is light - It is not supposed to be heavy. It is not supposed to wear you down. What a
great exchange!
And
lo! A great result: You will find rest for your souls
How
are you doing today? Are you burdened? Do you find yourself in a dead end
today? Are you weary of trying to be
righteous? …of doing the right things? Do you find yourself saying, “What’s the
point?” Do you feel like life’s exchange
has given you a bad hand?
God
has a great exchange for you.
Your
burden for His
Your sins for His righteousness
Your sickness for His healing
Your poverty for His riches
Your curses for His blessings
Your sins for His righteousness
Your sickness for His healing
Your poverty for His riches
Your curses for His blessings
What
say you?
1 comment:
I just remember that since I graduated from high school the concept of gift-giving and kris kringle has dampened to the point that I do want to be a part of it but I realize that I am always getting something that I don't like. So this is why I like wishlists. It's like kris kringle + write to St. Nick.
People make it a point to try to wish for God to give them something around this time. I am Catholic and that is how we are wired. It's almost like a business transactions of sorts. I go to this x amount of masses so God needs to give me what I am asking for. I dunno. I don't think that should work that way. It's like getting a good grade just for showing up.
*I need to remember to blog about this.*
Anyway, advanced Merry Christmas!
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