Perfect Gift
Our children
brought us a special gift tonight as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and wise
men. They told the Nativity story reminding us that Jesus is the gift God has
given to the world.
Sometimes,
we can forget the gifts we get. How many remember your Christmas presents from
last year or the year before? A lot of things happen and we can forget about the
gifts; even when the gift is from someone special.
We read the
names in Jesus’ family from Abraham to Joseph. These were God’s chosen people.
Even in this special relationship, they seemed to forget God’s gift to them.
The first
person named was Abraham. God promised him descendants numerous as the stars in
the sky. God would be with them and make them a great nation. God asked that they
remember his gift and carry out his wishes.
Many years
passed. Everyday life happened and people forget; but, God didn’t forget His promise.
God raised
up David as the King of Israel. David was a man after God’s own heart and
carried out God’s wishes. God promised one of King David’s descendants would be
the greatest King, the messiah, and the anointed one of God. God just wanted
Israel to remember His gift and carry out His wishes.
Many years
passed. Everyday life happened and new Kings and people did not follow God’s
wishes. They forgot God’s gift. But, God didn’t forget His promise.
God honored
his promise and sent the perfect gift, Jesus. Sadly, people had fallen asleep
and forgotten God’s promise. Even, Joseph
fell asleep.
God sent an Angel to Joseph in a dream. The Angel told Joseph of God’s promise to be fulfilled through the Holy Spirit in Mary. She
will have a child. Take her into you home. Protect her and protect the
child.
This was no
ordinary child. It was God’s perfect gift. He was Jesus, God saves us, the gift of God’s salvation. This child
was the promise of Emmanuel which
means God is with us. This child was love and hope for the better. He was
God’s mercy brought to the world. He was God become man for you and me.
Then, Joseph woke up. He woke up to God’s
gift. He understood the love of carrying out God’s wishes.
Maybe we
should shout: Wake-up everyone! God has become man for you and me. Wake-up, all
you who are sleep…. God is with us.
God’s gift is
Himself. God’s gift was in his promise to Abraham. It was in his promise to
David. God’s wish was for the people to accept His gift and love Him.
The Bible
tells us, “All
good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father ….”
God the Father sent Jesus, the perfect gift so we would know God is with us.
God’s wish
is for us to have God and Jesus in our
life. God’s wish is for us to realize - God is with us.
The
children’s presentation of the nativity was a gift to us. We may forget earthly
presents, but by this story always remember Jesus.
We can be the
nativity in everyday life by the way we live, act, and love God. We can be like
angels singing praise to God. We can be like shepherds coming to worship him.
We can be like the wise men bringing gifts of ourselves to God.
In all
these things, never forget God’s perfect gift, Jesus.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
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