The Naughty List and the Nice List

Merry Christmas to All!

Oh, that Naughty List and Nice List! We adults use it to motivate our kids to behave properly.  (Sometimes our little threats work, sometimes not.)  It helps the kids understand a principle that they'll encounter in life: doing what's right reaps rewards; making bad choices bring unpleasant consequences.

But God views things a little differently.  You see, by God's standard, we all belong on the Naughty List. Every one of us.

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Yet God has made a way for all of us to be on his Nice List.  And it doesn't involve doing a certain number of good deeds----because, realistically, we could never do enough good deeds to earn a spot on God's Nice List. No, a spot on the Nice List is a gift, and it comes with numerous accompanying gifts such as eternal life and membership in God's forever family. This coveted spot on God's Nice List is ours when we put our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God---not by works, so that no one boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

When I was 17 years old, these were the verses that helped me  understand that I could quit trying to be "good enough,"  because it was never going to happen. But I didn't need to be "good enough" because salvation is a free gift. 

Oh, we're meant to do good works.  Our good works come from grateful hearts and are empowered by God's Spirit.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2"10

Right now the kindergarten children understand Naughty and Nice.  I hope eventually they'll all  comprehend this tremendous gift that God offers them because of His great love for them. We can use the events of Christmas to generate discussions, so that one day they'll see their names on the nicest list of all---the list of those who have found eternal life in Christ Jesus.