Oh, the season of shopping is upon us. It seems to come so early. Some are prepared and have their shopping finished before the season has begun. Others, well, they leave everything to the last minute in hopes of finding that amazing deal. We search high and low for those deals. We try to beat the crowds and get ahead in every way. We read the store ads, and look on line. Some push others aside so they can be first. We have our hand out in hopes of scoring that perfect gift at the perfect price. But can we really find that perfect gift in a store? On line? At the mall? In all our searching we are missing the greatest gift of all.
He is wrapped in love, not a brown paper bag. He is packaged with grace, not a big red bow. He lets those at the end of the line go first. His gift is free to us, although it was costly to Him. He had to give all so we could accept. We say this season is all about Him, but is it really? What do we make it?
Don't be like one of those shoppers waiting until the last minute. Be like the one prepared ahead of time. As we are waiting in line, don't begrudge those ahead of you. Reach out to all around you. Show the love of Christ, the real meaning, the real gift. He is the real deal.
There is nothing on a rack that can wrap us as warm as His love. There is nothing out there on a shelf that can erase our sins. There is not one thing on the tree that can out shine His light. No, there is not even a gift under the tree that can keep on giving such as He can.
When all the gifts are opened and all the wrapping paper trashed, the tree comes down and all those gifts are stashed. Some are kept around our necks, but His remains in the heart. We then stand in line to exchange those very presents that cost. We don't think about the giver much, but what we want instead. We can exchange all we have and keep on searching for more, or we can grab hold of the greatest gift and have it forever more.
John 12:25-26 "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."
John 3: 16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
