Casandra Martin

We have just finished the big sale weekend that launches the holiday season for retailers. Millions of shoppers got up in the wee hours of the morning, stood in line for hours, jostled their way through crowds, and joined in the excitement of finding great deals and super sales.

Black Friday has almost become as much of a tradition in some families as Thanksgiving itself. With a smile, I listened as friends described their preparations for their shopping trips. Some had shopping sleep-overs. Others took naps, studied ads, made lists, and drew up game plans. These early morning adventures served to strengthen connections, plant memories, and draw hearts closer, as much as it did to check off gift lists and save money.

All of the hubbub around this sale weekend also caused me to look into the mirror. Do I get as excited about receiving God’s free and gracious gifts as I do about finding a sale on toys? Do I prepare myself for running into His open arms at worship times with the same intensity that I prepare myself to go through an open store door at 3 a.m.? Do I set aside time, make a plan, connect with friends, and dedicate resources in order to more fully experience the best deal ever – the grace of Jesus Christ?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8.

My Jesus Resolution today is to embrace the best deal ever. Shopping is fun. Finding great bargains is a blessing. But I don’t want to miss the best deal ever. I want to experience all the richness, power, peace, joy, and forgiveness embedded in God’s gift of grace. Just like super shoppers spend time preparing and planning in order to get in on the best deals at a store, I need to invest energy, focus, resources, and attention to having a heart ready to receive everything God wants to give me.