“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free …” – Galatians 5:1

Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock once recalled a performance in Germany with the legendary jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis. They were playing Miles’ composition “So What” and that night they were “hot”, having a lot of fun, really “on.”

Then, right in the middle of one of Miles’ amazing solos, Herbie plays the wrong chord. A chord that sounded completely wrong. Sounded like a big mistake. Herbie stopped in shock putting his hands over his ears as if to somehow erase what he had done yet knowing he couldn't.

Herbie describes what happened next, “Miles paused for a second and then he played some notes that made my chord right. He made it correct. Which astounded me. I couldn’t believe what I heard. Miles was able to make something that was wrong, into something that was right. With the power of the choice of notes that he made and the feeling that he had.”

For those of us who walk in the fullness of Jesus’ work in and through his first Advent, this is how we are meant to experience God in our lives. We hit the wrong chord. Do the wrong thing. Make the wrong choice. Are horribly impacted by the sin of another. And, God, in and through his love in Christ Jesus, makes it right.

It may not be instantaneous. It may take years, sometimes a lifetime. But as Paul put it in Romans, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Herbie goes on to say, “Miles didn’t hear it as a mistake. He heard it as something that happened. An event. So that was part of the reality of what was happening at that moment. And he dealt with it. Since he didn’t hear it as a mistake, he felt it was his responsibility to find something that fit. And he was able to do that.”

For those who love God, grounded firmly in the work of Christ, God doesn’t “hear” our mistakes. Our sin, trauma, and pain are events. And, covered by the blood of Christ and out of the depth of his immeasurable Love (Ephesians 3:16-19), God makes it his own responsibility to make it right.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

It really is for freedom that Christ has set us free beloved! May you not only know but truly experience the fullness of that freedom throughout the remainder of the Christmas season. Carrying it through into the new year as we live out our gloriously messy lives; awaiting his even more glorious return!

Godspeed and with much love - Merry Christmas ... Ray