The Best Gift
MUSIC BLOG
12-24-2024
The Best Gift
In the busyness of the Christmas season, I was reminded of the unbelievable wonder that started it all. This wonder continues to captivate our thoughts and actions some 2000 years hence. We don’t just watch movies about the Christmas season, there are entire channels dedicated to its exploitation. Stores and shopping malls do their best to attract and distract us into buying the perfect gift. Online shopping is just as permeable if not more so. How about the decorations on many homes and communities and the light shows that people queue up for, waiting in line an hour or more to drive by a display?
As I contemplated all this, I thought, “What does it mean to receive a gift?” Like you, I have had many packages delivered to my door this year. With each one, I have opened them and oohed and aahed over then contents. However, I thought, “What if I had not opened the gift?” What if the gift had come to my home, I had accepted the gift into my house, but for whatever reason, I didn’t open the gift? Maybe it came exquisitely gift-wrapped. The paper was expensive and beautiful. The bow was perfectly chosen. There was no name attached, and the entire package had a distinct air of mystery. Instead of opening the gift I chose to display the gift prominently amongst the rest of my Christmas decorations. As time went on, the gift lost its prominence, but I couldn’t bear to open it just yet. It was relocated and set among other lovely things in my home.
Another thought that crossed my mind was, “Many people have experienced this same situation!” They know that we celebrate Christmas because God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to earth. He was born of a virgin, Mary was her name. Joseph was chosen to be the Child’s earthly father. The parents traveled to Bethlehem to be taxed by the decree of the Emperor. This journey was by donkey, and it was about the time that Mary was to give birth. The only visitors to the child was a group of startled and bewildered shepherds who heard a marvelous chorus from the angelic hosts of heaven. Mary, a bit bewildered and amazed, pondered all these things in her heart.
All of this is common knowledge. It is a beautiful story. It is not always seen as a personal gift. Yet, that is exactly what it is. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. A gift is not to be admired, it is to opened, to be received and to be used up. The gift of eternal life is more than an admirable thought of concept. For it to become a reality, it must be received. For as many as received to them was granted eternal life.
This Christmas, the best gift you can receive is the same gift that started everything. It’s so simple to do. First Admit you are a sinner. The Bible says, that All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and that His death and resurrection are sufficient payment for all your sins, to everyone who believed to them was given power to become son’s of God. And finally, confess your sins to God and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead you will be saved.
You can make this the best Christmas of your life, and of your eternal life by receiving this precious gift of Jesus.
Blessings,
Marty