Christian Reflection and Prayer

A man dies and goes to Heaven. Of course, St. Peter
meets him at the Pearly Gates.

St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100
points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good
things you've done, and I give you a certain number of
points for each item, depending on how good it was.
When you reach 100 points, you get in."

"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same
woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in
my heart."

"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "That's worth three
points!"

"Three points?" he says, slightly concerned. "Well, I
attended church all my life and supported its ministry
with my tithe and service."

"Terrific!" says St. Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."

"One point!?!" he moans, now really getting worried.
"I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a
shelter for homeless veterans."

"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.

"Two points!" the man cries. "At this rate the only way I
get into Heaven is by the grace of God!"

St. Peter nods and says, "Bingo, 100 points! Come on in
my son!"

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read Luke 2:21.

TEXT: And at the end of eight days ... He was
circumcised (see Luke 2:21).

New Year's Day was always an exciting new
beginning. If the old year had brought us pain
and misery, we could rejoice that it was over,
gone, behind us. And in the dawning of a new
day, there was the hope the New Year would
be so much better.

This day was also a new beginning for the baby
Jesus. Jesus is eight days old, and it is now
time to circumcise Him, according to the Law
of the Lord. This ceremony made Jesus a
member of God's people Israel. It also bound
Him under the Law, obligating Him to keep that
Law perfectly. As our Substitute, Jesus perfectly
obeyed God's Law, so His perfection, holiness
and righteousness might be ours, covering our
failings, our flaws and our sins.

But His circumcision carries with it the reminder
that Jesus will not simply cover our sin, He will
remove it from us-forever. On this eighth day of
His young life, Jesus first sheds His blood for us,
but it will certainly not be the last time He does this.
On a dark day 30-some years into the future, Jesus
will shed His blood and die on the cross to satisfy
God's wrath against our sins.

The symbolism of His circumcision and our
baptism both remind us of God's work, cutting off
our sinful nature or drowning it. In baptism God
makes us new creatures, so we can stand before
Him spotless and pure through Jesus Christ. What
a way to start a New Year!

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in Your circumcision Your blood was
first shed as our Substitute. Cut the sin from our
hearts, that we may enter this New Year in Your
holiness and purity. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)