TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD

Merry Christmas,
Yep, its Christmas already. For our friends in the northeast, U.S.A. who wanted a white Christmas, you really got it. Maybe you didn't want that much of it. We certainly pray that all are safe and even managing to take some time to enjoy the snow.
I was thinking about the song "Joy to the World," an old wonderful Christmas song of praise for the birth of Jesus our Lord. For those who believe, joy has come, but the world we live in is far from being a joyful place. One day it will be, but until then, it can be at times, a very scary place. That is why the joy of the Lord is such a wonderful gift, because it does not depend on external circumstances. Without the Lord, it is impossible to fully experience such joy. But not only was joy born to us two thousand years ago, but Grace was also born. More than unmerited favor, the grace of God has granted us access into the Holy place with Him and seated us with Christ in the heavens according to Eph. 2. Because of our new position we've be graced to receive all the spiritual blessings of the Father, the fruit of the Spirit to name a few. Grace has three major components: (1) Justification, (2) Sanctification and (3) Glorification. Justification happened in the past. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, we who would believe were counted as having right standing with God. Sanctification is a present reality. We are set apart from the world while in the world and are daily being shaped, conformed, transformed into the likeness of Christ. Its an ongoing process. Glorification is in the future to come when Christ returns and we are made perfect as He is perfect. We will lose these old bodies and receive glorified bodies that cannot get sick, sin or die. For us, this is what was born two thousand years ago in the person of Jesus our Lord, so joy to the world (at least to those who will believe) the Lord and His Grace has come!