God's Naughty & Nice List?

Does God have a naughty & nice list?

This time of year, it is easy to start overlapping God and Santa. Santa seems to have divine powers of observation and transportation. He seems to be good, and want other people to be good.

But while God also has supernatural powers of observation and movement, does God really make a naughty and nice list like Santa? Is God sitting in heaven/North Pole, watching us with an army of elves/angels, speeding all over the globe with blessings/presents? And are we making decisions trying to get on God's good list?

What came into being

through the Word was life,

and the life was the light for all people.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. John 1:4-5

We read in this passage that the life God provides is light for all people - not just people who make it on a 'nice' list. God came into the word not to separate people into different groups, but to bring peace and joy, hope and love, to everyone.

Luke quotes Isaiah when he says that "all humanity will see God's salvation." (Luke 3:6) Now, it is true that God also gave us the gift of free will, which means that we can choose to turn away from God and reject the gift of salvation and grace. Plenty of people choose not to see, or choose not to hear. But that doesn't mean that God isn't trying to reach them.

When God chooses to speed around the globe, God wants to connect with each person, even if they have done stuff that qualifies for a 'naughty' list. Jesus sat and ate with people who made some seriously questionable life choices, and welcomed them into the grace of God. What about us today? Are we ready to turn to God and join the party of peace and joy?

Let's stop connecting Santa with God, and instead sit and eat with a Savior that makes room for every person at the table.

Peace + Grace

Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter

December 23, 2021