Of Good & Perfect Gifts

Today is Christmas Day, a commemoration of the Salvation that came to earth.  He, who was and is the Creator of the Universe, literally put Himself in the humble form of mankind that we can be saved through Him.  It is for this reason we celebrate, and although we do so in a diversity of ways, most markedly are the traditions of remembering the "Christmas Story" found in Luke 2 and the giving of gifts to loved ones much as the wise men brought their gifts to the foretold King of the Jews.  And this is why I find myself meditating on James 1:17 which says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

We are likely to receive something this day, but may we not forget where everything truly good comes from.  Jehovah is the source of everything good.  It is He who loved us even before He created us, and He created us even knowing that we would sin against Him.  He also knew that because of our sin, we would need a salvation and that He would need to pay that price Himself.  Along with that, He knew we would not love Him until we came to the realization of His love for us.  And it is here that we can see the great mystery: He still loved us enough to created us and then redeem us by His death.  He was buried and then He rose again, so that we too can rise again.  And this salvation is freely offered to all!  All we have to do is receive it, just as we do with the gifts we find under the tree with our name on it.  Of all the good and perfect gifts we are given from Jehovah, this salvation, whose precious name is Jesus, is the greatest of them all.  It's the greatest gift you could ever receive, and your very self is the greatest gift you could ever give when you give it back to the One who made you.  I've shared with you before that it was such a thought that turned my heart to Him, and I hope that you have turned your heart over to Him as well.

So, as we commemorate the birth of Christ today,
It is my prayer that the light of His Word will shine in your hearts,

And the glory of His presence will be very real to you.

May you never forget the Christ in Christmas.