Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus (Yeshua), meaning "Yahweh saves" or "Salvation."  His name is His mission, He is the Christ, the (Mashiach) Messiah, the deliverer.  He came that the world would be redeemed through Him.  Forgiveness is the essence of the Cross and Christmas.   Luke 4:18-19 reminds us that His mission is to:

• Proclaim good news to the poor (those who lack).
• Proclaim freedom for the prisoners (stuck in sin).
• Recovery of sight for the blind (by the world).
• Set the oppressed free (free from... addiction, depression, discouragement, sickness, the enemy).

Forgiveness and reconciliation are His Mission.  To restore us into the right relationship with the Father, to redeem us for eternity.

The application here is to join Jesus' mission, to give what we have been freely given, the gift of forgiveness.   If you have someone that you have been estranged or could not forgive before, this message urges you to reconcile, to forgive as you have been forgiven.   Let the work of Christ dwell in your hearts this Christmas, proclaim His good news to everyone, forgive, and be at peace, and allow this Christmas be one of reconciliation.

Lord, I pray that you would bring to mind anyone we have not forgiven.   That you would not allow another year, or month, or day go by that would allow any unforgiveness to stand, that we would be set free from it, and that you would heal old wounds, old relationships, that you would bring in us and through us the gift of forgiveness.   In Jesus' name Amen!