The Great Gift
Christmas time once again. Celebrations, joy, gifts … a time for giving and receiving.
For children, and those a little older, it means the illusion and expectation of receiving a gift. It is that special feeling of waiting to receive something from someone who loves you. But even more so when what you received was just what you expected or just what you needed.
It is really beautiful when you see the smiles and joy of the child who receives your present.
Probably we have all participated in one way or another in giving and receiving, and have experienced the beautiful emotions accompanied by such acts.
But, how do you feel when we have given away is relegated to a second or third place in importance? How do you feel when your present brings no more joy? I believe we have all gone through this. Our consolation is that this is common behavior in children.
About 2000 years ago, mankind was given a great gift from God. Perhaps people were not waiting for this, but it was the perfect gift.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:10-11
A savior. Just what we needed. The solution to a life with no meaning, the salvation of a world in ruin. The gift that nobody could get for themselves.
The same way that we hope that our children receives a gift with joy, God expects us to cherish the gift of salvation. How do you think God will feel if we relegate to a secondary or lesser place the salvation that he has given us? That would be acting like the children that play with the box and forgets about the gift. But it is due time that we put aside childish things.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. – 1 Corinthians 13:11
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. – 1 Corinthians 14:20
As adults we are expected to value the most important things. We can certainly receive things in this life that could give us some degree of happiness, but nothing we get will ever compare with the gift of salvation.
This great gift remains as effective as the day we received it. What is your attitude today with regard to the gift of salvation? Let us not allow any gift to take the place of Christ in our lives.
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