Awesome Christmas Gifts

How hard we work to try and get Christmas gifts that will be meaningful and useful to those on our Christmas list.  The way they respond to these gifts is important to us.  You know, God has worked very hard to get just the right Christmas gifts for you.  The way you respond to them is also very important to Him.

First, God gives you the gift of forgiveness of your past sins.  Jesus came into the world to make it plain that God has not given up on you.  You are not off His Christmas list.  Rather, new life is yours.  That new life starts at the point of forgiveness of your past sins.  Jesus paid the penalty for them.  The appropriate way to respond to this gift is to cherish the gift of forgiveness and believe it is really yours.  Jesus has come into the world to take your sins upon Himself so you can have this gift of forgiveness.

Second, God gives you the gift of help for present challenges.  Suffering or sickness might hit you.  Disappointment or frustration might come.  Loneliness or doubt might afflict you.  But take heart, God is with you.  The coming of Jesus into the world gives you assurance of that.  This wonderful gift enables you to go on in faith.  This gift moves in mysterious ways.  It may be help when you need it, spoken or acted through a friend or stranger.  It may be a sense of peace that envelopes you in the midst of your challenge.  It may be the courage you find to stand up and go forward.  God does not forsake you in your life challenges but helps you.  The proper way to respond to this gift is to thank God that He is always with you and believe that He loves you and will always help you with life’s challenges.

Third, God gives you the gift of hope for the future.  A light has come into the world that will never go out.  That light is Jesus.  He has come to dwell with you and guide you through this world to heaven.  God has not forgotten the world.  He is still in charge and will bring His plan of salvation to completion.  The gift of hope lets you know that nothing in the world can stop God from fulfilling His plan.  The proper way to respond to this gift is to thank God for having you and the whole world in His hands and to believe that nothing can undo God’s plan of salvation for you and for His creation.

God gives these awesome Christmas gifts to you this Christmas.  Your response to these gifts makes all the difference to Him.  It would mean so much to Him if you would receive them with thanksgiving and use them often.  He would be delighted if you would share them with others.

Spreading, Serving and Sharing With You,

Pastor Carl