The Bungee Cord. 12-29-25

Hello,

Did you ever notice that there is no “should” in Christmas. The story of Christmas, at least the Biblical story of Christmas, is one of sheer gift.

I suspect that there has been a time, or times in your life when someone has given you something, and when that has happened to you, if that which has been given to you is of significant value, (tickets to an Illinois basketball game, a piece of jewelry that you had saved up for years to buy, a world famous doctor who makes an appointment for you) you say to the giver, “I should give you something for this.” And the giver puts out their hand like a traffic cop yelling stop, says, “No, No. Just take it.”

Moments like that are the things upon which relationships are made and built. In this transactional world in which we live, a world in which backs are scratched but hearts are left untouched, gifts given as sheer gift are pilons for a skyscraper sized relationship that no wind, quake or storm can topple. When a parent says to a child, “No matter what you do, you will always be my child,” that child can step into the trap filled world with confidence and hope. When a person says to another, “Here’s my telephone number. You call me no matter what time of the day it is, even the middle of the night, and I’ll be there for you,” that is like sealing a friendship with superglue. “Just take it.”

Such gifts are not like poker chips to be cashed in when the giver needs help. Such gifts are not shackles of never ending duty and allegiance. They are not given out of guilt or pity. They are acts of love, and to say, “I should give you for this,” diminishes the degree of love in which they are given.

When God gave you and me the gift of Jesus, his Son, God’s desire was to do only one thing, love us. God was not looking for some compensation for his generosity. God was not hoping to make us permanently carry a debt to him. As a matter of fact, to say to God, “I should give you something for this,” would be an affront to the motivation in God’s heart that led God to give us a gift of such personal worth to God. “Just take it.”

Over and over again, the Bible tells us that God has given us Jesus unconditionally. Such giving may trigger a profound “Thank you!” from us, but more so God means it to ever more deeply wrap us in his embrace, and when that happens we are changed….changed into people who are driven by being loved. Changed from people who look what they can get out of people, to look how they can do as God does, abundantly fill people. Changed from people who ask others, “What have you done for me, lately?”, to people who never stop asking others, “What can I do for you.” Changed from people who seek to do God’s will out of duty and obligation, to people who simply live their lives as who they are, beloved Children of God.

As the world has gotten ahold of the Christmas story, the world always adds a “should” to it, but my hope is that this Bungee Cord will open your ears to the announcement of the Bethlehem angels,

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[b] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[c] praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[d] (Luke 2)

Notice….there is no “should”.

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger