The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Most previous Christmas mornings had been pretty lean, but this year was different. “What a Christmas this has been”, they shared as they surveyed the mound of toys, games, clothes, gizmos and gadgets.  As loving parents, they had worked hard throughout the year to save, shop, and then provide each child with the gifts their hearts desired.  But, as the day after Christmas wore on, the original joy and delight at first sight of “granted desires” gave way to disinterest.  There was too much.  Maybe lean had been better.

But our Heavenly Father…God, the first giver, the best gift-giver, knew what He was doing when He gave the best gift to all mankind.  The same perfect gift for each person…no matter their size, age, personality, or lot in life.  Not only was His gift given in love, (John 3:16) His gift was Love.  Not only was the gift given in light of what we really wanted and needed, but His gift was Light.  (John 1:9)  Not only was His gift for the here and now, but for all eternity. (Hebrews 13:8)  In the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, is everything one could ever want.  Yes, the gift was broken, but that transpired by design, so that once raised back up in wholeness, each recipient could count on the durability of that gift to last and reign forever.

God’s gift will never stop giving.  As long as babies continue to be born, God’s Gift will keep on giving…love, joy, peace, patience, righteousness, grace, mercy, victory over temptation, forgiveness of sin, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life to name only a few.   James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights.  Some of those gifts are things, some are people who touch our lives, some are qualities that dwell within us.  All God’s gifts are good.

Christmas isn’t over just because the December 26th dawns and the radio stations play their same play lists as the rest of the year.  No, continue to celebrate; make the effort!  Christmas has only just begun.  God’s great Gift, Jesus, the real reason for the season, remains.  This year, when the newness and excitement of man’s gifts has faded into disinterest, remember that the unspeakable (no words to adequately describe Him) Gift of God (2 Corinthians 9:15) , Jesus, was offered to you and me as the Gift that keeps on Giving…for ever and ever and ever.