The Perfect Gift
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows."- James 1:17
As we come to Christmas morning I am reflecting on all the amazing gifts that wowed me, overjoyed me, and even surprised me. When I was a child I remember the pure exhilaration of getting a red light-saber! As a teenager I was floored when a package came in the mail with the most stylish New York Mets Starter brand jacket! And twenty years ago on Christmas I received the best gift ever as Joanie said "YES" to my marriage proposal! In many ways that special gift of love twenty years ago not only completed me but was a gift that would provide a lifetime of joy.
When we think about the perfect gift of God's love in the package of Jesus' birth we recognize we have received a gift that releases us from chains, showers us with blessings, and opens the way for His fullness of peace, joy, and hope to penetrate every fiber of our being and every area of our lives. So even as "GIFTS" often become the theme and focus on Christmas, I want us to focus not on what is wrapped under the tree, but the One who has come to us from heaven. Here are some Scriptures that speak to this amazing and unmatched gift:
Ephesians 2:8- "For it by grace you have been saved, through faith--this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
II Corinthians 9:15- "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift."
Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Acts 2:38- "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
II Timothy 1:6- "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."
Romans 11:29- "For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable."
May God's gifts continued to be graciously, abundantly, and perfectly poured out to you and your family this Christmas season!