The Ultimate Gift

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shifting shadow. James 1:17 NASB

Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. James 1:17 The Complete Jewish Bible.

Every day I receive several different “Encouragement for Today” type things in my email which I usually delete before ever reading them. But yesterday, unlike the last few weeks, I decided to read the one actually called Encouragement for Today which, of all things, was about gifts. (hmmm) And last night when I wrote in my Gratitude Journal this was written at the top of the page. “There is only one real deprivation . . . and that is not to be able to give one’s gifts to those one loves most.” –May Sarton (hmmm again) How God reiterates what I’m meditating on each week is beyond me! But He does and usually in more than one place. So it is for God’s glory in bringing me this article in the week we’re meditating on gifts and for your encouragement that I’m sharing with you this article I found called --

The Ultimate Gift

"...God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11b

Devotion:

Christmas day at my house had become all about the presents. The décor, the shopping, the parties, the tree...it all culminated with those gifts when it should be culminating with the Gift. Something needed to change.

What can I do to see Jesus as a gift, and to help my family see Him as well? I wondered. A light bulb went on in my head, about the same time the light strand went out on my tree, and a plan was birthed.

Phase one: Baby Jesus was removed from the displayed nativity set. He was carefully boxed and wrapped in my fanciest paper, intentionally labeled with a specific name, and gingerly hidden under the myriad of gifts at the foot of our tree.

Phase two: During our family gift exchange on Christmas morning, the disguised gift was handed to my unsuspecting daughter, the named recipient, just one of her many gifts. It could have been an I-pod or a sweater or another book...after all, there was no host of angels announcing the valuable contents. But knowing what I knew, I watched with great anticipation as she opened it.

Phase three: A bewildered look came across her face. Haley didn't speak. I asked, "Haley, what did you get?"

"I got Jesus."

An entire family discussion ensued as we discussed the ultimate Gift in the midst of all of our other presents. We compared the gift of Jesus with other gifts that would wear out, that would be outgrown, and that would eventually lose appeal.

We began to ask and answer lots of questions such as:
What is a gift? What is the purpose of a gift? What can we know about the giver of the gift? Why might the giver choose to give a gift to you specifically?

Together, we came up with truths about God...that He gave us the Gift that we need, that we want, and that we could never afford to get for ourselves. He wrapped that Gift in a blanket and gave - voluntarily, sacrificially, and lovingly - to each one of us, the named recipients of His greatest Gift.

We've invited Jesus back into Christmas to take His place as the perfect Gift that never stops giving. I can hardly wait to experience today that same conversation this year as a new family member opens the box and announces, "I got Jesus!"

Dear Lord, too many times I have excluded You from my Christmas and been satisfied with presents and stuff. Let me not be content until I experience the gift of You in my heart. Cause me to see You as the ultimate Gift. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
© 2009 by Gina Parcells. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
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