The Greatest Gift

Today’s Thought

I love buying gifts. I hate buying gifts. Finding that “perfect” something for the ones you cherish and love at times is exhilarating and at times excruciating. There is something in me that doesn’t care to just spend a certain amount of money and have something “nice” under the tree. I can agonize over a purchase for one of our kids or especially the grandkids to the point of exhaustion because I want my gift to the ones I love to add meaning and enrichment to them, and to also say, “I love you–don’t forget.”

Our grandkids are the worst. I never thought that being a grandparent could be so special and every time gift giving comes along, I want to go big! I want them to know that “Chief”–that’s me–and “Tinnie”–that’s Callie my wife, love them to a million miles. Well, with these little ones, you can never tell. We just gave our grandson a trampoline, and I expected him to do back handsprings or something. He thought it was cool then ran away and began to play with his tractor in the dirt. Then for our granddaughter's second birthday, we gave her a cool rocking horse that neighs and makes a galloping sound. It was “awesome” for almost ten seconds. Giving gifts is….

Christmas is all about a gift. In eons past, there was a Father who saw His children and began to plan the original, the ultimate Christmas gift. This gift would carry the utmost meaning, and this gift would communicate the depths of His love. “‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God saw the unfathomable need His children faced and gave. “For God so loved the world, that he gave...” He gave–the Gift of Christmas–the Son of God for us.

Jesus IS the gift of all gifts. He IS the gift we celebrate at Christmas. He was an expensive gift beyond any of our comprehension; He was a meaningful gift beyond our ability to access or imagine; He is a gift that keeps on giving for people in every nation, and most every city are finding forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father. People are being healed throughout the earth. People are finding new life and meaning still today. He IS the Gift of the Father.

I wonder...are we ever like our two year old grandchildren? We see the gift and unwrap the paper with wonder and say, “Cool” but then run off two minutes later and play in the dirt with another toy? I wonder...have we truly seen this gift and taken Him to heart. I wonder...He’s the Greatest Gift–the birth of Christmas–Jesus!

Think It Over

• How deeply have you meditated upon the love of God in giving you Jesus?
• How completely have you appropriated all the ramifications of the gift of Jesus in and to your life?
• What could you do to marvel and live in wonder more fully of the gift of Jesus in your life?

Let’s Pray

Oh, Father, open our eyes to Jesus, the gift that began all things. Help us to see the depths of your love toward us in giving your only begotten Son. Open our hearts to daily live in wonder and amazement at the extravagance you poured out when you gave him to us. Enable us to explore the depths of Jesus Christ and all the varied ways he has come to enrich us. Help us to adore your Gift. In Jesus’s name, amen.