I recently rewatched Dickens’ Christmas Carol, and was reminded to the powerful message the ghost of Christmas present brings to Scrooge.

He brings the inherent dangers of “Ignorance and Wanting”, as well as the powerful benefits to “Generosity and Good Will” in our present moments.

He even has a message for “Christians” as he explains, “There are some upon this earth of yours who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”

We have only ourselves to blame for the bent actions of man, even those we see within the church, for we are each accountable and free to choose our ways in life.

As such, Dickens story is a reminder to be awake and aware so not to allow our ways to be that of ignorance, and wanting, but rather generosity and good will.

In Romans we are encouraged to do this by loving and living from the center of who we are – discovering the beauty in everyone – working to try and get along, even with those we disagree, and rather than condemning, guilting, grasping, and wanting for everything in sight, we are to learn to love others, and ourselves better and to enjoy and trust the love God holds for each of us.

Excitedly, God invites us to share this love, live out this love, and receive this love with our new hearts, new eyes, new ears, and new lives He has given to each of us in Christ.

In this way, we are freed from the trappings of ignorance and wanting and are empowered to be more generous and kind in our living.