The Christmas season of 2011 was different. There was an old practice revived due to the economic situation in the U.S.  Those “seasoned” Santa’s will recall the ways which businesses conducted “lay-a-way” plans. This was credit before there were credit cards. You paid some money down, and some each week, until you could get your merchandise out of lay-a-way. Almost all stores did it, especially during the Christmas season. What made this season unique, was anonymous donors were randomly paying off the lay-a-way accounts for merchandise of people they didn’t even know! (One unknown care dealer paid for $15,000 worth of stuff valued at $200 or less to cover more folks). These donors were labeled, “Good Samaritans” and “Christmas angels”, and the recipients of the “redemptions” of their debts were shocked and thrilled. They were less concerned about “the why?” than “the wow!”. 

 

It certainly made me think of the greatest “pay-off” in the history of mankind…Jesus’ death on the cross.  Unlike the afore mentioned “Samaritans”, whose gifts to these individuals is likely never to be repeated, Jesus’ gift will go on day after day, year after year, until he comes to take us “home”. His redemption is for everyone, not just a few…and all we have to do is claim it. Obedience is our down payment and Jesus pays the bills! Better than Christmas every day.

 

If you haven’t yet realized your sins have been paid for…you need to claim them through repentance and baptism.  It will make you debt free thanks to the greatest of “gift-givers”, Jesus Christ.