My wife, Stephanie, is a fantastic, deal-finding Christmas shopper extraordinaire. Several days ago she announced to me that all our Christmas gifts were purchased. . . except for just two items. Apparently a couple people we deeply love seem to have most everything they want and need, which, of course makes them nearly impossible to “gift” at Christmastide.
Not to let snow gather under her toes, Stephanie feverishly searched for “the perfect gift” for these two unintentional curmudgeons of Christmas cheer. Just in case you’re wondering, they’ll never be told they were difficult to shop for. Ho ho!
With a furrowed brow, she asked, “Michael, what do they need? What do you think they might possibly want?”
I replied with a dismal shrug, “I’m just not sure, Honey. I simply don’t know what gifts we could buy for these people, who don’t seem to really have any needs or wants.”
So on she continued in search of the perfect gift.
But God knows exactly what every man, woman, and child needs. He knows we don’t need merely another teacher, benefactor, builder, baker, or candlestick maker . . . we need a Savior.
God knows exactly what we need most: new, eternal life through the gift of His Son, Jesus the Christ.
We are all born unholy and separate from a loving, communal relationship with God. But God in His pursuing, unstoppable love sent His Son as the ultimate gift. Here’s how the apostle Paul was inspired to declare this message:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Paul shouted out with gladness greater than glee, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). How shall we begin to define and delineate all the depths of the wisdom, mercy, and power wrapped up in God’s gift?!
Why did God the Father send His perfect Son? So that you and I could be brought back to God. Separation is overturned in God’s act of restoration. This truth is precisely what we find in Peter’s first letter:
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18a)
Have you received the gift of God’s Son? God is inviting you. He is calling you to turn from your way of trying to earn His love and instead receive His love in the Son. We can’t erase our sins to live in communion with a sinless God. Only Christ could do this for us. And He has done it. We need only to turn to Him in full faith . . . and receive The Perfect Gift.
To all those who have received new, eternal life in the Son, let’s shout out with glee a song of thanksgiving for God’s indescribable gift. Let’s declare, in our words and actions this Christmas, what the celebration is about: Christ the Savior of the world.
Watch my short video-devotional for today The Perfect Gift:
