It truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year. It is a time of families to get together, enjoy a great time of fellowship and food, and shower each other with expressions of love through gifts. For many, this is also a time set aside to focus upon the birth of the Savior of the world, and the significance of His arrival to save a lost humanity.
Christmas has taken on different forms of significance for me within my life. When I was a child, I recall getting together with extended family to behold the largest pile of presents I have ever seen underneath my grandparent’s tree. When I was in college, this became a time for all the uncles and cousins to eat and then go shoot pistols, shotguns, and rifles for several hours in the afternoon. All of those things are wonderful memories, but now that I am a father to two beautiful children, Christmas has taken on a different perspective. It is a time to focus on family and faith and to instill wonderful memories and traditions.
As I have gotten older, I must say that I enjoy showering my family with gifts. To see the look of suspense as their gift in place in their lap and then witness the look of elation when they receive a gift of something they didn’t expect yet enjoy.
It seems that lately, the art of purchasing the perfect gift for someone has taken a beating. No longer do we spend time considering the right gift for our friends and family members. Instead, many people now swap shopping lists. It goes something like this, “What would you like for Christmas?” you may be asked. You then reply, “I will think about it (what I want you to buy me), and I will email you my request.” Both parties seem to feel relieved. The buyer doesn’t have to wonder what to buy you, and you are excited to get exactly what you wanted all along.
This year I have made the decision that I am NOT buying anyone anything that is on their list, nor am I giving anyone a list of things I want them to buy for me! This is by far more difficult, yet I find it to be so much more rewarding. Just like when you were a child and you had no clue what gift was under the tree, the suspense is awesome, and the surprise is going to be outstanding. Instead of asking others what gift they desire from me, this approach allows me to focus more on my relationship with them. It forces me to pay closer attention, when I am around them, to things they like and dislike. It provides an opportunity to get them a gift from the heart, a gift which allows them to know I truly care about them.
You may be reading this and thinking, “That is NOT for me!” I want to share my desires with those who ask to guarantee I don’t end up with an ugly Christmas sweater or a pile of gifts to exchange at the store. There are risks involved but I have decided to risk buying my friends and family a gift they don’t desire in hopes to give them a heartfelt present they enjoy even more.
James 1:17 clearly states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” God alone is absolutely good (Mark 10:18). Since God is good, he cannot send evil gifts; he gives only good gifts. God gives man everything that we needs physically and spiritually. God is also the Father of lights. He created the sun, the moon and the stars (Genesis 1:14-19). Not only does God give light, God is light (I John 1:5). God sent his Son to be the light of the world (John 8:12; 1:4-9).
God gives us great gifts. Please consider some of the following gifts we receive according to Scripture.
LIFE
Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” God has blessed each one of us this year, but none of us would even be here to enjoy it without God’s gift of life. He created us, he sustains us, and blesses us more that we can possible understand or imagine.
JESUS
John 3:16-17 is well known and often quoted, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” These verses reveals a lot about God. God is love. While God hates sin, he loves humankind. God’s love is proved to us by what he did. He gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die upon the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus made the sacrifice whereby God could punish sin, but save the sinner.
PURPOSE
Paul writes to his son in the faith in 2 Timothy 1:8-9 and shares, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” Jesus transforms lives and builds his church, expanding his good and perfect spiritual kingdom on the earth until he returns to take us home with Him forever. By God’s grace, we participate in this mission with Jesus for the good of all people.
EVERYTHING
John 3:27 reads, “John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” Everything we have—including our families, friends, church, finances, jobs, houses, investments, credit, equity, cash, businesses, automobiles, and more—is given to us by God. We are stewards of these treasures, not owners. Good stewards make every effort to manage their treasure according to the heart and will of the one to whom it ultimately belongs.
May we all take the time to consider the perfect gifts we receive from God and live out lives of praise and adoration to display our love for Him and His ways! May God bless your richly!
My Glimpses of Glory 