Don't Miss the Gift

It seems that we spend a lot of time picking out a gift, and the more we care about someone the more painstaking it becomes to find just the right one. We search high and low, in and out of shops, searching the internet, driving all over town, until finally, we find it. When we do find it we are elated, and excited, it seems that the longer we wait the sweeter reward.

God has done the same with his gift to us. The book of Isaiah was written around 700 B.C! Yet 700 years before this gift is to be given it is written in chapter 9: 6-7 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

If this is not specific enough, Isaiah in chapter 7 spells it out: 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Going even further back to Gen. 1 The Lord says “let us, make man in our image.” This gift has been a long time coming! Much has happened, generations have lived and dies, nations have risen, fallen, and risen again. Much like we have been searching through the stores, God was searching through time, looking for the time to be full. One could only imagine….now I would never assume to know the thoughts of God, but could you imagine?? All of these events have to unfold, floods, plagues, the wilderness, war, prophets…..If it were me, I would just want to hit the Fast Forward button! Of course the Lord has a plan for his gift, and the timing must be right.

Why do we buy gifts anyway? When we go out and start the shopping cycle why are we doing it in the first place? Well, because typically the person we are buying for is buying something for us! We are always thinking “ I wonder how much they are going to spend”, or “are they going to get me something that I asked for?” maybe more to the point…..” I hope they don’t get me some piece of junk!” Ok maybe none of you are like that, and you are happy with whatever you get, you are still out there looking for that one item, and if it is not reciprocity that you are after, then what is it? It is that we don’t want to be forgotten right? We want to pick out that gift that says, you are special to me; we want to give the gift that stays on the person’s mind, the gift that will keep us in their hearts!

God has the same plan for his gift, and the best part is that the gift is free! We serve a God that has no needs. There is nothing that we can buy for him, nothing we can build for him. All he asks if for our thanks, and praise. HE has asked us to take this gift and use it daily, keep it in our hearts, on our lips, and on our mind, so that we might be able to draw closer to him, and realize the plan that he has for us. He has freely given this gift in the hopes that we freely give it to others.

Everyone knows the best gift is one you can share. Think back to when you were a kid, a great gift was one that you could run outside and say LOOK GUYS!! LOOK WHAT I GOT!! Come on over and let’s all play with it! What is the first thing that the shepherds wanted to do when the saw Christ in the manger? We see in verse 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. The angels appeared, told them the good news about the gift of the Savior, they ran to see him, and then they ran to spread the news!! HEY EVERYONE GESS WHAT?!?!?

Running out to share, that is the beautiful part of the gift. We not only get the gift, we get to give it to others. We all know that the only thing better than giving a gift, is getting a gift! Even better getting a gift from someone that does not want anything back form you. They already have it; they wanted to give it to you, so that you could walk along with them. We are giving and receiving a gift from the Lord, one that contains so much love, so much grace, and so much forgiveness, that the result is everlasting life. A gift that is so big, that no matter how many times it is passed on, there is always more left to give!

SO this Christmas don’t miss the gift! While everyone is busy unwrapping gifts, and the squeals of excitement from the kids who just got that perfect toy…. the one they just could not live without. In the middle of this commotion, and excitement, do not forget to take time out to remember the true gift. The gift of the child in the manger, born in a barn, the child born to lowly surroundings that will mature to save to world. Remember the night when shepherds rubbed shoulders with wise men. When Angels came to spread the good news and proclaim Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Don’t allow the day to pass without wishing Jesus a happy birthday. His birth is the beginning of our salvation. The child, who would grow to be a king, then becomes a living sacrifice for each and everyone of us. This is the gift the Lord has given us; this is the true gift of Christmas!


Peace,
Rev. Thetford