One year, about four years ago, my boys and I planned a very special gift for my husband. It was meant to be a gift that he would never, ever forget, one that would be a “giving” gift. We choose a beautiful Ragdoll kitten. My husband dubbed her “Roxy”, and she has been a part of our family ever since, ever giving joy to our family.
This Christmas, we’ve been discussing the fact that Jesus is the greatest of Gifts. He is the “giving gift”, for His gift lasts for eternity, but even better, His gift is a gift that just keeps on giving! Let’s take a look at some of the “fringe” benefits of Jesus’ Christmas gift to mankind:
1. Freedom: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound…” (Isa 61:1, NKJV)
2. Protection: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (Ps 18:2a)
3. Strength: “My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Ps 18:2b, NKJV)
4. Help: “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.” (Ps 33:20, NKJV)
5. “Sons of God“: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14, NKJV)
6. “Enthroned with Him“: “…even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:5-6, NKJV)
7. Peace: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27, NKJV)
And the list could go on and on! Far beyond the little “benefits” of joy that Roxy brings to our home!
But I must admit that Roxy doesn’t always bring joy in exactly the way we want her to. She is playful and active, not at all cuddly, and she most definitely has a mind of her own. If it isn’t her idea, then it isn’t a good one, and even if it is her idea, then it is only a good one for about 3 minutes before another “good idea” occurs to her.
In much the same way, Jesus doesn’t say that He will always give His children what they want in life. In fact, He promises that we will go through troubled times: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33a).
You see, Jesus doesn’t promise prosperity. He doesn’t promise good health or steady, reliable employment. Instead, He promises to carry us through these troubled times: “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV). He promises that: “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28).
But why, we may ask, would a such a giving gift choose to “give” us troubled times?
Let’s take one more look at our cat, Roxy. Though she isn’t cuddly, she makes us smile, and she brightens our day with her antics. Take Christmas time, for example. Roxy loves the presents under the Christmas tree. I have had to rebow all of them, and rewrap many as well! She thinks those little ribbons and bows were put there for her personal enjoyment, and enjoy them she does!
To Roxy, Christmas is a time when the entire house became full of “cat toys”. Lots of fun little balls hanging from a tree, candy canes to swat at, boughs to chew on and chase. And though part of me would really like for the house to stay decorated and the packages to stay wrapped, it is so much fun to watch her that she is readily forgiven for her “misunderstanding” of Christmas and its decorations. If something were to ever happen to her, I would truly miss her “badness” at Christmas time! I truly wouldn’t have it any other way!
It is much the same with the “undesirable things” that Jesus allows us to go through in life. They are there to bring us greater joy than we could ever imagine.
Let’s look at Romans 8:29: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8:29, NKJV).
Thus it can be said that these “less-desirable” gifts are given to us for the greater good, that we may indeed be more and more able to accept the full benefits of salvation, that we may be “conformed to the image” of Jesus!
And isn’t this the best gift of all?
Friends, Jesus is the ultimate gift, the gift that lasts for eternity, AND the gift that just keeps on giving. But just like any gift must be received, Jesus’ gift must be received in order to enjoy its benefits. Why not receive it today, my friends? If you’ve never asked Jesus into your heart, please email me. I would be more than happy to help you receive the Greatest of all Gifts for yourself!
The is the last part of The Greatest Gift. If you have missed any of this three-part series, please find them published online by clicking here, or if you have trouble accessing them online, please email me here, and I will send them to you. May God bless you abundantly this Christmas as you continue to enjoy the “Giving Gift” that just keeps on giving! The gift of Jesus!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
(To access the entire “The Greatest Gift” mini-series, please click here.)