Give me a word, Lord: I DIDN’T GET WHAT I DESERVED! THANK GOD!

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

A couple of years ago at Christmas, our Pastor, Bro. Shane, made a statement in His sermon that really stuck, He said, “To enjoy Christmas, embrace what we deserve. To enjoy Christmas, you must enjoy the Savior. To truly enjoy the Savior, we have to truly realize what a Gift He is!” Y’all think about that for a moment. Try to wrap your head around it. Let it seep into every pore of your body and fill you with delight. Many times, November and December roll in faster than an Amtrak train, and we scurry around buying gifts for those we love. We want it to be perfect. The decorations have to be just right. The tree has to be beautifully trimmed. The ridiculous number of gifts under the tree have to be wrapped and adorned perfectly with glittering bows and paper. We have the incorrect mindset of thinking that all of those things matter. We put so much weight into the “getting ready for Christmas,” but not nearly enough weight in the “celebration of the Savior.”

Over the years, I have had so many packages under the tree for my children and family that the twelve foot tree was almost dwarfed by the gifts. Yea, I use to be really ridiculous with my gift giving. I can’t help myself. I love to give. But think about this. Do my kids “deserve” all those gifts under the tree? Probably not, but oh how I love my kids, and I absolutely enjoy giving gifts to the precious jewels that I get to call mine! I give the gifts because I love them! Now, consider this. Do you and I deserve the gift of salvation? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Yet, a little over 2000 years ago, God showed His love to us in an unprecedented fashion. He gave us the greatest gift ever! He gave us His Son who came to earth fully God, but also fully human. Jesus was born to die! He was born to die for each and every one of us, Our heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us the most wonderful, special, perfect Gift in the world because He loves us. He gives us His grace and mercy. We didn’t do anything to deserve this special Gift. We could never earn this Gift. We were given the Gift of salvation because each of us are jewels in our Father’s eyes, and He just couldn’t help Himself. He loves us that much!

I hate it when temporarily lose sight of God. Sometimes my vision gets clouded by the million and one tasks that I am trying to complete, but praise God! He never loses sight of me. Do I deserve the 5,987,465 chances that He has already given me? Do I deserve the next chance that He is already going to give me? Absolutely not, but guess what? Our God is so loving and so faithful that no matter how many times we mess up, no matter how far we roam, no matter how much trouble we get ourselves in, and no matter how busy we find ourselves, God WILL ALWAYS BE GOD! He will always be right there by your side. He will never leave you. And even if He has forgiven you 5,987,465 times, He’s ready and waiting to forgive you again and again. We don’t deserve this, but He truly loves His kids and just as we desire a close relationship with our children, God desires a close relationship with each and everyone of His kids!

To enjoy Christmas this year, you must enjoy the Savior, and to truly enjoy the Savior, we have to truly realize what a Gift He is! Quit worrying about the presents, and start remembering whose PRESENCE you are in! I pray that you find yourself cozy and warm in the arms of Christ this morning, but if you feel that you are distant from the Savior, I pray you find your way back! He hasn’t gone anywhere He is still waiting for you to receive the greatest Gift ever!