Are you ready for Christmas? There are only a few days left to get prepared. There are probably presents to wrap, and food to make.
For me the shopping is done, and the best part is yet to come. My wife and I get to give gifts to people whom we love. One thing I have learned over the years is that a gift is only given when it has been received.
That reminds me of a true story about my friend Dave, who faithfully attended the first church I served. Dave was a loving husband. He and his wife, Barb, were high school sweethearts. They got married three years after Dave graduated from high school. Dave loved to give Barb gifts, and tried very hard to make every birthday, anniversary, and Christmas special.
One year Dave thought he found the perfect Christmas present. It was a purse, and one that he knew Barb would love. He had it wrapped at the store and set it carefully under the tree. Christmas Day came, and their family gathered together. Each gift was opened, and Barb unwrapped the purse that Dave had so thoughtfully picked out for her. She thanked him with a smile, and the family enjoyed that Christmas gathering together.
A couple of months passed, and Dave noticed that Barb had never used the purse he gave her. He went looking for it and found it on a shelf in a closet in their home. Time went on and Dave saw that purse never left the shelf. In fact, almost two years had passed, and never once had Barb used that purse. It never left its place on the shelf.
So that Christmas, two years later, Dave decided to wrap up the purse again and set it carefully under the Christmas tree. Maybe this time Barb would receive the gift he had so thoughtfully given.
It is true that a gift isn’t really given until it has been received.
Over 2000 years ago God gave the world the gift of his one and only Son. He was born to save us from sin and death. Christ lived and died on the cross. He took the punishment that was due us. Through his death and resurrection, we are able to be saved from our sin.
God is giving us the gift of a Savior. We need only to receive this thoughtful and powerful gift given in love.
It is my hope that as Christmas arrives this year, and we are reminded of this wonderful gift, that we will not let it remain on the shelf. Instead, I pray that each of us will embrace this wonderful gift of life, and we will not only accept Jesus with open arms, but allow him to radically change us.
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” And the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Merry Christmas!
