Matthew 7:11 – As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. (CEV)
Living a nomadic, military lifestyle during our married life, many of our gifts arrived in the mail from our parents. Our children eagerly looked forward to these parcels, as did we, their parents. These gifts, which always contained homemade goodies, did not arrive automatically because we were good, but were an outpouring of the love and caring of our fathers and mothers for us, their children.
As the year progresses, our thoughts turn once again to Christmas. Christmas is so important to the Christian family. Exchanging gifts is one way that we share our love for one another and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
God shared His love with His world family by sending Christ into our midst as a little babe.
Luke 2:11-12 – This very day in King David's hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay. (CEV)
Christ did not come on His own, but was a gift sent by the Father, Who loved us so much that He poured out this great gift of His love for us, to save us and to give us everlasting life. He will do even more for us when we turn to Him and ask that He come into our lives and our hearts.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)
At this Christmas celebration, as we share gifts with our loved ones, may we contemplate, as we open our gifts, the gift of everlasting life that God gives to us. This gift is much more precious than any treasured material gift we may receive.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You from deep within our hearts for Your gracious, eternal gift in Christ Jesus, Whom You sent to save us. May we, in turn, help others to receive Your gift for themselves, in Christ Jesus, in Whom we pray. Amen.
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