Christmas Devotion: The Gift - Ephesians 1:7-8

Ephesians 1:7 -8         In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Every year, I see people putting themselves under a lot of pressure trying to make everything perfect for Christmas. I watch others lavish their loved ones with precious gifts and expensive presents. I look at parents who are desperately trying to find the right gifts for their children, as well as hoping that in the last week before Christmas, their children won’t suddenly change their minds. It’s all done with a great deal of affection and it’s just part of being human, of showing our love to those nearest and dearest in our hearts.

In the midst of all this hurrying and scurrying, there’s one lavish gift that is available for each of us. It doesn’t come free, because it was paid for with the life-blood of a holy young man. It can’t be purchased in stores, because it comes straight from heaven. And it cannot be re-used or given away once it is received, because it is an everlasting gift of God’s infinite love.

The old word associated with this lavish gift is ‘Redemption,’ which doesn’t have a lot of meaning in a post-modern world. Redemption is an essential part of a process which means that those who receive this gift are brought back into God’s favor, their mistakes are deleted, and their lives are re-started. In the entire history of the world and the personal circumstances of every single human being, it’s the most important gift ever to be offered and the greatest blessing that people can ever to receive.

It comes wrapped in a manger and is built upon a cross. It comes with instructions and ends with praise. It has humble beginnings and promises a glorious end. This lavish gift is, of course, Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God, the Savior of our souls, the Lord of all Creation, and the King of kings. There’s no greater gift in life because what He offers is a greater life than we could ever know on Earth. And He’s the Gift that keeps on giving, for every day someone somewhere in the world accepts and receives this amazing bounty of God’s blessing.

May you know this lavish gift in your life, and may all of your loved ones receive Him, too.

Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest Nativity drawing. It’s called “The Outsiders.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/11411785985_b7c36a34dd_b.jpg

Advent devotions: Heart of the Holidays - Galatians 1 v 11

Galatians 1:11            I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.

There are so many fables and stories, customs and events attached to our current celebrations of Christmas that it is sometimes hard to distinguish what is real, important, and true. We spend so much energy and effort in promoting, upholding, and supporting Christmas traditions that we frequently forget the simple Gospel message at the heart of our holidays.

Most of the things that we do around this time of year have really no Gospel connection to the miraculous birth of Christ. We get so wrapped up with wrapping gifts up that we miss God’s message to the world: we can experience everlasting hope, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal peace with God through Jesus.

We can make ourselves ill with the burdens that we place upon ourselves. We can exhaust ourselves emotionally by trying to make everything perfect for everyone else. Instead of allowing Christ to be the Burden Bearer of our worries and the Perfecter of our peace, we busily battle our way through the commercial rush and allow peer pressure to dictate our lives.

Christmas was never meant to be like that. The Holy Mass of Christ was supposed to be a sacred time when we allowed Jesus to be the Light of our world and the Healer of our sorrows. He came to show us that life can sometimes be a delusion, and that we often deceive ourselves with our busy-ness. We really need Him at this special time, not only to save us from our sins, but also to save us from ourselves.

The gladness and goodness of the Gospel at Christmas is a glorious God-given opportunity when we can truly experience a little of the joys of Heaven on Earth through welcoming Christ into our hearts and homes. After all, when everything is said and done and our finite lives draw to a close, it won’t be the fables, customs, and traditions of Christmas that will get us into God’s Eternal presence; it will only be Jesus Christ our Savior, Lord, and King who can do that for us.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we advance into another season of food, festivities, fables and films which will strain our finances, remind us that faith in You and true fellowship with God are the most important parts of Christmas. Keep us from burdening our lives and loved ones with trinkets and tinsel, delusions and decorations that have no everlasting value. Remind us that You are the Heart of our holidays and the Center of our celebrations. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s 2010 Christmas drawings. It’s called “Christmas Candles.” You can view a larger version at the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5119623018_6b4a062826_b.jpg