"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us... we have now been justified by his blood….” Romans 5:8,9

The perfect balance of God’s character (mentioned in yesterday’s post) also reminds us of the positive tension that He  desires in us, the remembrance of:

where we have come from (out of the dominion of darkness where we were condemned criminals before the court of Heaven, trapped in net of the enemy,  and in our natural depravity.)

And who we now are in Jesus (the beloved children of the King, adopted and brought into the Kingdom of Light, living in your love and grace). In Jesus we are cleansed, forgiven, justified, equipped for special service, accepted, dearly loved, and delighted in.

Keeping both in mind means we are able to be truly humble—that is, seeing ourselves as you see us. This protects us from being depressed in the negative and from being proud in the positive.

Only you, Lord Jesus, could bring us to such a balance, lifting us from the level of natural thinking to heavenly seeing, from a self-centered viewpoint to a Christ-centered understanding.

This is the wonderful Christmas gift you came to give us!

Picture : we are now in the Kingdom of light with King Jesus (from internet)