For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16
Giving gifts is a beautiful gesture of love and generosity. How we feel about the gift is usually reflective of who is giving it to us, how we feel about the person and the value of the gift. In a worldly sense, if we are raised to expect a lot of gifts, there is an initial excitement that comes from opening a brand-new gift, but the appreciation dies very quickly and with it, the memory of the gift. When gifts are rare; there is greater appreciation and value placed on the gift. Since we live in a world of abundance, I know I tend to take things for granted. We are wired to be selfish from birth so receiving gifts or anything we want is often looked upon as entitlement or an expectation.
I was born in a country where extreme poverty was at your doorstep. The only gifts we could expect was what our parents could afford, and it came in small packages at Christmas and on my birthday. I know this cultivated an appreciative heart for the gifts I did receive and placed a big value because I saw I had something many kids on the street couldn’t even dream of.
But there is a gift I have most certainly taken for granted. The GREATEST GIFT of all. The gift of JESUS CHRIST. How did this happen? How did I so easily lose sight of the gift that our Father in heaven has given us? The life and death of His Son that has bought us eternal life. This last week, Pastor Luis Brito brought us a familiar message in John 3:16 but more importantly it helped me reflect on what I had placed the most value in my life. I did unwrap my gift years ago when I accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life but somehow with time, the familiarity of Christ in my life now became something I took for granted and as a result I became less appreciative of this gift.
Each Christmas is a reminder of this act of love. God the Father in sending His son to earth paid the price for our sin so that we can have HOPE when life gets hard, so that we can REST in him when we are overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, so that we can live in FREEDOM.
Life on earth is short but it determines eternity. What a gift. You have this gift. Let me finish this year’s last reflection asking you the question Pastor Luis asked us all, have you unwrapped your gift? Have you truly accepted this gift and received Jesus Christ in your life? It’s the only gift that matters.
Father, thank you for the gift your most precious son. Thank you for the price that you paid for my freedom. Help me never to take it for granted. Amen.
By Christabel Joy