Joy in Receiving
Have you ever had a difficult time receiving a gift from someone? Maybe it was a gift that was unexpected and you felt embarrassed for not having purchased a gift for the giver. Or, perhaps the gift was very extravagant and you felt it was undeserved. Whatever the circumstance, the manner in which you receive that gift can have a tremendous impact on your relationship with the giver.
I remember one particular Christmas when I received several lovely gifts in the mail from an elderly woman who served as custodian where I worked at Baylor University over 20 years ago. It was a complete surprise, and I felt it was undeserved. I knew this particular woman did not have much, and I decided I would pack the gifts back into the box to return them to her with a polite, "Thank you, but I don't deserve this." Then, suddenly I realized I would be robbing this dear woman of her joy--the joy she had in taking the time to pick what she felt was just the right gift for me.
God has chosen just the right gift for each and every one of us. It was very extravagant. None of us deserve it. And, if we will just receive it, we will give our Heavenly Father great joy. The gift is His son, Jesus.
The Bible says, "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17 NLT
The gift has been given. Now, what will we do with this gift? Will we receive it, or will we wrap it up and send it back? Will we rob the giver, our Heavenly Father, of His joy? I pray that we will all receive this extravagant, undeserved gift of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and that we will share Him with everyone we meet.
May Christ make this Christmas your very best.
I remember one particular Christmas when I received several lovely gifts in the mail from an elderly woman who served as custodian where I worked at Baylor University over 20 years ago. It was a complete surprise, and I felt it was undeserved. I knew this particular woman did not have much, and I decided I would pack the gifts back into the box to return them to her with a polite, "Thank you, but I don't deserve this." Then, suddenly I realized I would be robbing this dear woman of her joy--the joy she had in taking the time to pick what she felt was just the right gift for me.
God has chosen just the right gift for each and every one of us. It was very extravagant. None of us deserve it. And, if we will just receive it, we will give our Heavenly Father great joy. The gift is His son, Jesus.
The Bible says, "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17 NLT
The gift has been given. Now, what will we do with this gift? Will we receive it, or will we wrap it up and send it back? Will we rob the giver, our Heavenly Father, of His joy? I pray that we will all receive this extravagant, undeserved gift of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and that we will share Him with everyone we meet.
May Christ make this Christmas your very best.
Comments
Love the redesign too! :)c.