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The Ultimate Gift
By: Denise Watson-Smith (Dee Dee)
During the holiday season, so many of us
run around trying to find that perfect gift.
We look for electronics, toys, candy, and clothing, just to find the
perfect gift for that family member or friend.
While we are so busy out searching for that perfect gift that money can
buy, we overlook the one gift that is free.
The gift that keeps on giving, we overlook the ultimate Christmas gift
that was given to us. What gift is that?
JESUS!!! Over 2000 years ago, God gave His only begotten son, to come to this
earth, to live, to suffer, to die and to live again, just so that we can have
eternal life. He sent His Son to us, as a gift for us, to continue to give to
us daily… (Remember, the gift that keeps on giving). We get so caught up in the holidays that we
fail to remember the reason for the holiday.
Children think that Christmas is about Santa Clause, and they never
realize that if it had not been for Jesus, there would not have been a Santa Clause for them to “rely
on” every year. We spend so much money
every year giving the perfect gift, but we fail to tell others about the
ultimate gift. Our children hear about
someone who comes down through a chimney, but they do not hear about the one
who can save them. We have gotten so
busy trying to take Christ out of Christmas, that we don’t even say Merry
Christmas anymore. We say, “Season’s
greetings, or happy holidays or merry x-mas.” Christ is no longer the focal
point of Christmas. People don’t care about
that baby who was born in a manager, wrapped in swaddling clothes so many years
ago. They want their diamonds and furs,
cars, clothes, toys, etc. We are so busy
giving to others because of the season that we fail to thank God for the
season. When was the last time that we
said to God, “Thank you?” When was the
last time that we offered up something to Jesus, after all, it is HIS
BIRTHDAY?! The gift that keeps on
giving…new mercies every day, another day, miracles, love, patience,
understanding, blessings, family, friends, eternal life, another chance to get
it right, forgiveness, health, joy, peace of mind, salvation, God’s grace,
integrity, justice, mercy, respect, self-esteem, faithfulness, courage,
kindness, generosity, compassion, contentment, hope, patience, passion, wisdom,
boldness. Everyday with Jesus is brand new, everyday with Jesus is greater than
the day before, waking up everyday to Jesus is waking up to a brand new
perspective on life. I know how wonderful it is to wake up on Christmas morning
to find a gift under the tree for you, but how much more wonderful would it be
to know the Giver of the Ultimate Gift, how much more grand will your life be
if you knew the one who was born on that day, so many years ago, so that you
can have the freedom to receive the gift.
As I sit here and write this, I can only
imagine what Jesus done for me. I can
only sit here and look around at everything that He has given to me and just
say thank you. It is wonderful to know
that I can open my eyes and see His magnificent works. It is awesome to know that I can listen with
my ears to the sounds of that which He created. Have you ever wanted something
so bad and that when you receive it, because it did not come packaged the way
you expected it to, you rejected it, put it on a shelf or in the corner
somewhere. That is how we do Jesus, we
want Him and all He has to offer, but because He did not come packaged the way
we wanted Him to, we rejected Him, we placed in the corner or on the shelf, but
never close to us, because we did not want people to see our association with
Him. Jesus came to this world over 2000
years ago. He was sent by His Father in
Heaven to a woman who was a virgin, to be born into a sinful world, to be made
sin for us, to suffer, to have bled and died, just to be resurrected so that we
can live forever in Him. This Christmas
season, while you are out trying to find that perfect gift for someone, don’t
forget to also tell someone about the Ultimate Gift, because that is the only
gift that can get you into Heaven.©
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