The Gift (By Mike Belgard)

December 22, 2017 - Have you ever wanted to give a gift to someone who was very special to you? It becomes difficult to find just the right item. So you start researching the needs and the desires of the person so you can get them the perfect gift. The perfect gift is that thing that they not only want but that they really need. Something that when they see it they will be amazed at the amount of thoughtfulness and love that has gone into making it perfect for them. You want it to not only show how much you love them, but that their best interest is of utmost importance to you. 

So the day comes when you give them the gift. You are more excited than they are to have it opened. The anticipation builds as they rip off the paper. You hold your breath as they open the box. Then, when they see it you notice that their face changes from excitement to that "oh that's nice" look, and your heart begins to sink. They tell you how thoughtful they think you are, but you can tell that it just wasn't what they really wanted. It was what you know they needed, but not what they wanted.

When God sent His son Jesus to the world as the perfect gift to mankind, there were many who could not accept that Jesus could possibly be the Savior of the world. After all, to those in the world who had not been looking for the messiah, he was just the son of a carpenter. They refused to see Him for who He actually was. The Son of God. 

The religious scholars of the day thought the gift they needed from God was a strong military leader to free them from the bondage of the Romans. But God knew that the gift had to free them from something that was more long term than their current circumstances. They needed a more "eternal" solution to their problem. So He sent his Son as a gift to the world so that whoever would believe in Him would not die but have eternal life. It was the perfect gift for mankind. 

Still to this day there are people who refuse to accept the gift that God has so freely given us. Some believe that they don't need that kind of gift. They think they deserve something more. Well if we get what we deserve we would not have a chance. Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We all have sinned. no one is perfect. So Paul goes on to say in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death." So if we were to get what we deserve from God it would mean eternal separation from Him or death. But God in his wonderful love for us gave us the perfect gift in Jesus Christ through His grace. That's how Paul can write in the second half of Romans 6:23 "but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." The gift is free. It was paid for with the blood of Jesus.

The wonderful thing about a gift, is that it's free. But you do have to accept it for it to become yours. You must receive it , take possession of it, make it your own. So what are you waiting for? God has been waiting for you to take the gift. Are you willing to step out in faith and let Him change your life? Start the New Year out right and accept the free gift of God. It will make this year and the rest of your life much more prosperous and secure.

I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard