Heartland Precepts

I am looking for that perfect gift, aren’t you? Stressful isn’t it? My gift giving strategy is to search, spend, and sew...and usually get stressed out at some point.  Check out the conversation below on finding the perfect gift…

“Hello,
Yes…I found a really great gift for my sister. I know she will really love it! It cost a little more, well a lot more then we planned, but it is such a great gift and I love buying her nice things…. What?

No, I didn’t get him anything. Do we have to?  Yeah, I know he is your bother, but he doesn’t really deserve a gift…I know, I know he’s family, your family…Ok, how about you get one of those big tins of popcorn…that wouldn’t cost too much.

Alright, I will talk to you later… Oh wait, I forgot… your grandmother.We should get her a really nice gift this year. We haven’t stop by to see her much this year…an extra special gift will show how much we love her…Look…I have to go…Love you!” 

What was her gift giving strategy?                                                                                              Sister—perfect gift, $$$, something she will really love
His brother—perfect gift, $, quick, easy
His grandmother—perfect gift, $$$, something so she will know she is loved (buying love?)

What is God gift giving strategy?                                                                                                   Does He, like the woman above, give generously to those He really likes and grudgingly or not at all to those who He thinks doesn’t deserve it?

God, the true Father of Christmas, has a very different gift giving strategy. In fact, He has already given the perfect gift…

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

1:  HE GAVE  OUT OF LOVE

God so loved the world…

 God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgression, made us alive together with Christ. Ephesians 2: 4

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 1 John 4: 9

Think of it this way…we are all on His gift list…and He doesn’t check to see if we are naughty or nice…because He knows we cannot be nice enough to deserve a gift from Him, yet He offers it to us anyway.

2: HE GAVE A GIFT THAT HE VALUED

…that He gave His only begotten Son…

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Father God gave His beloved Son (Matthew 3:17). The Son that He gave power over all things (John 3:36) and showed all that He is doing (John 5:20). His only Son, he sent to earth and gave for us that He might be the propitiation for our sins.

3:  HE GAVE A GIFT THAT HAS LASTING VALUE

 …that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

We are by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), with no hope. Yet God has not destined us for wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord, His Son, Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 5:9).

SO WHAT?  WILL YOU RECEIVE HIS GIFT?

Most memorable gift I have received was NOT on my wish list. It was Christmas at my grandparents’ house, I was probably 10 or 12 at the time.  I eagerly opened the small package I had received, only to find two pairs of underwear. I was so embarrassed and probably didn’t express my thanks very well (understatement!). As I think back, they were pretty and practical. Grandma probably thought she had found the “perfect gift”.

What would be the perfect gift from God? New house…car…job, more money??                 God has offered you the perfect gift. It may not be what you thought you wanted, but it is just what you need. Will you receive it today?