Please pick up your GiftEach Christmas season our Coast retail businesses enjoy a real financial boost. We all know that the sudden increase in sales occurs because in our culture we enjoy the delightful custom of gift giving, and what a marvelous custom that is. For us, Christmas is a time to show our love and appreciation for friends, family and neighbours, and to reach out to hurting people and rekindle old friendships.
I’ve heard it said that a true friend is one who makes the transition from our old address book into our new one. Possibly this is true of Christmas card lists as well. With a Christmas present, we affirm our love or appreciation for that special someone, a gesture that requires no reciprocation and has no strings attached.
Many years ago, mankind’s greatest admirer sent to us the most expensive gift ever given. That, of course, was the gift of eternal life given to us by our Father in heaven and made available to every person on Earth. Unfortunately, because you and I did not have God listed in our address book we went our own way and became separated from Him.
The gift was delivered in a most unusual way, delivered to a humble stable in Bethlehem, Judah. That starry night the skies overhead rang with the celebration of singing angels. It was the greatest gift ever given, a gift that would allow us to escape from the results of our disobedience to God and enable us to live forever on the new earth.
God tells us: For the wages (results) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Although not delivered by Canada Post, this wonderful gift came right to our earthly door. All that is required, then, is to accept it for ourselves.
For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. . .
For it is by believing in your heart, that you are made right with God; and it is by confessing with your mouth, that you are saved.
When we invite the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, into our lives and ask Him for forgiveness, we accept that gift of God, a gift that wipes away all of our past transgressions. The Father’s supreme sacrifice of sending His own Son to die for our transgressions is known as Grace.
For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Beloved, this Christmas don’t forget to pick up your gift. It has been waiting for you to accept it, from God with love.
We would like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with the goodness of God.
Douglas W. Greenfield