This time of year, I find myself doing a lot of comparison shopping. Is this toy cheaper on Amazon or at Wal-Mart? Will my daughter like this shirt or that one better? Which brand of turkey is a better deal? Should I read this book or that one? (In the case of books, the answer is always BOTH!)
But you know what I’m talking about, right? And when it comes to buying gifts or searching out a good deal, comparison shopping is a good idea.
The problem comes in when that culture of comparison shopping creeps into how we see ourselves. You know how it goes:
She has such a cute haircut. I wish my hair was that cute.
She packs her kids such great lunches. I wish I was as good a mom as she is.
She’s always volunteering at church. She must be a better Christian than I am.
And on.
And on.
And on.
But this kind of comparison does us no good. Because God doesn’t tell us to check how we measure up in comparison to others. He doesn’t say, Be better than. He says, Be perfect.
Yikes!
I don’t know about you, but I can’t do that.
So thank God that he sent us his Son. Jesus was perfect. He lived a perfect life for us. And then he went to the cross bearing all of our sins so that when God sees us, he doesn’t see all the ways we don’t measure up. No, he sees the perfection his Son has clothed us with.
As you’re comparison shopping this year, don’t forget the real reason for Christmas, the gift beyond compare: Jesus.
