I saw something on the news the other day about “Christmas in July.” That inspired me to share this devotion today.

In Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol,” the ghost of Jacob Marley visits his former business partner, Ebenezer Scrooge. As a stern warning, he says this to Ebenezer:

“I wear the chain I forged in life,” replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.”

What weight are you carrying around? What pet sin is a constant burden to you? Do you even know all the load you are bearing?  We do not do the good we want to do and do the evil that we try to avoid. And what will happen in the coming years? Can we change our future? After his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Scrooge asked:

“Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of the things that May be only?  … Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,” said Scrooge. “But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!”

Scrooge wanted to reverse the damage he had done with his own actions. Could he? Can we? We have the desire to turn our lives around, just as Scrooge did. And perhaps we can make some amends to those we have hurt or harmed here on earth. However, our efforts will never be enough to atone for all our wrong, our sin, our misdeeds and our failures before a holy and righteous God.

That is why it is important that we know and share the original Christmas story. Angels announced that peace had come. They told of the one whose birth would bring joy to the world. God has provided an eternal escape from your chains. The Savior was born for you. He lived for you. He died your death to pay for sin and lives still as the assurance of your forgiveness. He calls you to live a new life, not to make amends yourself, but to thank Him for doing it for you.

In Christ Tomlin’s adaptation of “Amazing Grace” he added this refrain:

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing Grace

Christmas is all about God’s gift to us: a Savior who removes our chains.

Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.