12/5 Lessons from The Grinch

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes)

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
Psalm 68:6
----------
Written by Sean Ponte 
If you have not seen the 2018 version of “The Grinch,” you really should. There is an interaction between Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch that reminds me of Jesus.
The scene goes like this:
Cindy Lou: “I just came to invite you to our house for Christmas dinner.”
​Grinch: “What? Me? But I took your gifts.”
Cindy Lou: “Yeah, I know.”
Grinch: “And your trees.”
Cindy Lou: “Yup.”
Grinch: “I stole your whole Christmas.”
Cindy Lou: “I know you did, but we’re inviting you anyway!”
Grinch: “But, why?”
Cindy Lou: “Cause you’ve been alone long enough.”
Advent is a time to look with hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus. We are sinners who haven’t earned this, but Jesus invites us to come to His table because “we’ve been alone long enough.”
This Advent season, I will look to ​Immanuel​, God with us, the one who looks past my shame and my wrong and says, “I know what you did, but I’m inviting you anyway!” He is the one who breaks the chains of sin and shame and gives us new life.
----------
Thank You for adopting us as your children, for placing us in Your family, Father God. May we welcome with sincere love and grace others who have been alone long enough.

Conclude with Stillness (2 minutes)