The Perfect Gift

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, we are now in the frenetic homestretch to Christmas, and the search for “the perfect gift.” You know the one I'm talking about. It may be for your spouse, child, parent, fiancé or friend, but you want to get them something that they really like, something that expresses how much they mean to you.

Of course, Madison Avenue and a host of retailers are only too eager to be of help in your decision-making, pitching everything from Mercedes to the latest tech toys to this season's new perfume. They flood television commercials, online pop-ups and billboards with pictures of overjoyed Christmas recipients of their products. They make it look like finding the perfect gift is the easiest thing you can do.

Personally, I've learned after years of varying success, that I can't always identify the perfect gift. For instance, it's taken time, but I know when it comes to my wife, Sue, that I'm far more likely to hit upon the perfect gift if its sentimental, rather than clothes or perfume. This knowledge has come only through experience, and unfortunately more than a few disappointing Christmas gifts.

As a parent, the perfect gift for me was watching my children's excitement as they opened that special present which contained the toy they wanted most. We always tried to capture the moment on camera, and now that our children are grown, those memories are priceless. Now I get to share those precious moments with grandkids.

Every year as we gather around the tree surrounded by presents and full of anticipation, I am reminded that the most perfect gift will never appear under the Christmas tree. It's actually an ancient gift, given 2000 years ago, but still continues giving today. It is the gift Father God presented on the very first Christmas, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. It was a gift that cost Him everything, but He spared no expense, for we mean that much to Him.

In giving His Son, Father God wanted us to be assured that He loves us so much that He would never deny us any good thing. Scripture states it plainly in Romans 8:32, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Have you ever wondered what is the perfect gift you can give to God? After all, He's “the Guy with everything,” right? Actually, you have something to give that He desires so very much. Like any loving parent, Father God wants to see our joy as we accept His gift and allow Him to give us all the blessings He desires to pour out upon us.

This Christmas, give the perfect gift to the One who deserves it most. Give yourself, your heart and your loving trust to Father God. Put a smile on His face and let Him show you how very much you mean to Him.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM for a special worship and Christmas service. We are continuing our present series, “A Faith Filled Christmas.” We will look again at “Mary's Faith, Part II,” and see how this young woman presented her perfect gift to God.

Pastor Che