"He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good"

Yesterday we began to play Christmas music in our car. Yes, I know it is a little early, but we are all very excited and a certain Jacob Hawkins put a penny in the DVD player so there will be no movies until that is fixed. We were riding down the road singing "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good..." Joshua asked, "Mommy, does Santa Claus really know if you've been bad or good?" As I pondered the question, wondering if this was the appropriate time to destroy the dream of Santa Claus for my 5 year old, I did what any caring, honest, godly mother would do...I said, "Joshua, what do you think?" He thought for a minute and then he said, "Well, Santa may know, but if he does it is because Jesus told him, because Santa Claus is not all knowing, only Jesus is." Awesome answer!!! I agreed with him that Jesus is the only one who is all knowing and our obedience or lack there of should be driven by our desire to please Him, not so that we will or will not receive earthly rewards.  I have never told my children if they are not nice Santa won't bring them a gift, because that is a lie. Imagine if we were true to our word on that one. Not one child would be receiving a gift this year. Not to mention it is not biblical. Apart for the whole Santa thing, it is also not in accordance with what Christ did for us..."While we were still sinners Christ died for us." Joshua is right... He is all knowing and yet he hung on that cross and gave us the gift of grace and eternal life in spite of what we had done. It was a free gift. Even our "good" deeds are as filthy rags before a righteous and holy God. This Christmas I encourage you to use every opportunity to teach your children and to experience for yourself the loving grace of our Savior. Good or bad, it did not matter to Him...it was a free gift. A gift we needed because we were bad (sinful) creatures. He gave out of unconditional love, not because we were or were not on the naughty list. So as you approach this Christmas season just remember that "He knows if you've been bad or good" and He loves you in spite of it!