The Greatest Gift – December 22, 2021

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.
Isaiah 9:6

The Greatest Gift

What gifts are waiting for you under the tree, soon to be opened? Have you looked? Maybe, when no one else was around, you snuck in and picked up the package with your name on it to gauge its weight. Maybe you shook it to get a sense of what it might contain. What gifts are you hoping for?

Whatever is in that package under the tree, will it satisfy? Will it be as amazing as you imagine, or will it break soon after opening? Will it live up to your expectations, or will it not be all you had hoped for? Will it take away the guilt or pain that you are feeling now? Will it fill the hole in your heart? Will it provide only a momentary rush, or will it provide lasting joy?

As wonderful as the gifts might be, God has given you a gift that is greater than all. God has given you a gift that is perfect and holy. A gift that has the power to erase everything you’ve ever done wrong. A gift that is not only the answer to all we struggle with here on earth but also provides lasting joy and peace. A gift that provides your ticket to an eternity in heaven that will never perish, spoil, or fade.

This one-of-a-kind gift is his Son, Jesus. God gave the very best that he had. He gave what no one else could or would. God gave the perfect gift. In Jesus, we have forgiveness and eternal life. In Jesus, we have the love of God and the reassurance that he is there for us. This gift from God is exactly what we needed. And guess what? This gift never fades over time. It does not break. It never fails to live up to what God promised. In Jesus, we are always saved, forgiven, and loved. Through this gift, we have eternal life in heaven.

As you open your gifts this year, remember the greatest gift. Thank God for the gift of his Son, Jesus.

 

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of your Son. He is the perfect gift. Help me to appreciate the blessings he brings all year through. Amen.