December 21

Every year, my father-in-law has my daughter do his Christmas shopping, and every year he waits until the last minute to call her. He is careful not to leave anyone out but doesn’t keep up with all the new family members; she has an extensive list, and he’s confident she won’t forget anyone. Why he waits until the last minute, we haven’t a clue. By the time she gets to the stores, the shelves are nearly empty, and finding the perfect gift for the people on his list becomes challenging. Not only that, but he wants her to wrap them all! He provides the money, but she is in charge of collecting the gifts and responsible for the way they are presented to the family. She does this each year without complaint, at least not within his hearing, and completes the task out of love for him and the family. This analogy is similar to what we do as disciples when presenting the gift of Jesus. He gives us a task and the ability, but it’s up to us to package it in an attractive way to his children, so they accept his gift with delight.

There have been years that some of the family doesn’t show up to visit him on Christmas Day, and the gifts have sat there unopened. His ways can be infuriating. However, after reconciliation of hurt feelings, the gifts that he still has after years are presented to those family members. He never took those gifts away out of anger, even though his family broke his heart. So, remember, those people you are angry with, or maybe even detest because they’ve rejected our Father, he still loves them and is calling them to accept his gift of Jesus.

God, our Father, presents the gift of redemption to everyone. He can take all of the guilt, sorrow, and humiliation that has been collected over the years and exchange it for freedom, and all that is needed is to trust in the gift of his Son, Jesus. Jesus is the way to bear with the things of this world until he brings us home to be with him. Continue to fight to help the lost souls of this world accept the gift of Jesus; he has commissioned you for such a time as this. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9