Hello Everyone,
It is a gift that takes a lifetime to unwrap…an indescribable gift, that truly ENRICHES THE LIFE OF EVERYONE WHO GETS ITI have not found one Christian in my 30+ years of walking with God that has said…”since I got saved, my life is worse than it was before”Why? Because God’s gift of salvation is meant to enrich the life of everyone who will receive itIt enriched the lives of the Shepherds that day.Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.They realized there life would never be the same again from that day forward.The same is true for all who receive the gift of the Christ-child.Before I received the gift…I felt lonely even in a crowd I had no hope.But after receiving this gift…Jesus walks with me everyday…I am not alone.Deut 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."Before this gift…I was doomed to live eternal life in hell…but because of this gift…I now have eternal life in paradise.Before this gift…I have no hope…nothing to look forward to…nothing to live for.But Jeremiah 29:11 tells me: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Before receiving this priceless gift…my life had no peace…anger and depression consumed me.But now Isaiah 26:3 tells me: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”Paul says in Rom 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;Yes…this gift that takes a lifetime to unwrap, enriches every life that receives it.I know many of us can’t wait to unwrap those gifts that are under the tree.But I want to remind us all that the unwrapping of the most precious gift of all is not just to be unwrapped once on Christmas day.But it is a gift that is meant to be unwrapped everyday…for the rest of our lives.The child that was born in the manger that day…was a gift that was wrapped in swaddling clothes.But as we unwrap that gift we all can see that it is…A gift that is INSTANTLY ours when we receive itA gift that takes a LIFETIME of unwrappingA gift that was of ENORMOUS valueA gift that is to be GIVEN awayA gift that ENRICHES every life that receives itMay we all treasure this gift as we take the time everyday to unwrap it EVERY DAY OF our lives.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil