The Grinch

Before we start into our Christmas fun, I’m going to share a short devotional on a short movie that we’re about to watch together.  Most of us are quite familiar with the story and with the movie: How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  However, we’re also quite familiar with the fact that this title is a bit deceiving.  I believe, however, that there are many spiritual insights gained from this movie.  For time’s sake this morning, we’ll just review a few.

The first is simply this: Christmas cannot be stolen!  The birth of Jesus is a historical fact that cannot be wiped from history.  It is a fact so firmly founded that it divided the very time line that we use to reference all other historical facts.  BC stands for “Before Christ” and AD stands for Anno Domini, Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord.”  Every time that we write a date, we proclaim the historical fact that Jesus was born, lived, died, then rose again to eternal life!

The second reason that Christmas cannot be stolen is because it is something that cannot be bought in the first place.  Christmas is all about Jesus and the free gift of His salvation.  No one can steal away your salvation!  Once you have received it, it is yours so long as you live it out and do not abandon nor neglect it.

The Grinch, after having stolen all of the symbolisms of Christmas from Whoville, stood puzzling and puzzling, then realized that “it came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages, boxes, or bags.  Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit MORE.”  We, of course, know that Christmas is absolutely about more!

The Who’s of Whoville and us alike

know that Christmas is more than an xbox or bike.

Christmas, oh Christmas, means so much more!

Christmas is about Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Secondly, we learn in a pinch

that salvation is a gift for everyone, even the Grinch.

The ones hard to love

need love the most.

The ones that we loath

and won’t give a card, nor some toast.

Our Grinches are just testing,

just wait and you’ll see.

To see if a Christian

for certain we’ll be.

They are looking for Christ

through us and our lives.

To see if the gift of salvation

has been repriced.

They’ll try and they’ll poke,

they’ll curse as they joke,

but behind their attempts to ensnare,

they’re checking to see if we still care.

Persevere! Jesus said, put on the new.

Be Holy, dear child, they are watching you.

For if you look hard, you’ll see.

It’s not about you,(long pause) it’s about me.

You are my body right now,

so live, like I showed you how.

That unlovable Grinch you could care less about,

For that unlovable Grinch, I poured my blood out.

I see in that Grinch what no one else apparently does.

I see behind all the green, mean, and fuzz.

I see a life hurting inside.

So I sent them to you, my beautiful bride.

Simply be my church and you’ll see.

What a wonderful savior to all I can be.

Inside of that Grinch, I’ll do my work.

A new heart, a new spirit; no longer a jerk.

Until I return and make all things new.

My authority and kingdom, I’ve entrusted to you.

Don’t look skin deep at the Grinches around,

see as I see and let my great love abound!