Probably nothing is more associated with the season that leads up to Christmas as shopping for presents. That is something that can be a joy, or it can be filled with anxiety and frustration looking for just the right gift.
Years ago my wife worked in a bank. She once told me that she hated the days in early December as people came in - unhappy and grumpy - because they took money out of their accounts in order to go buy presents they didn't want to buy, for people they didn't want to give them to, because they were "duty bound" to give gifts. It is a miserable way to approach giving gifts...obligation, duty, must, got-to...
Then there are those gifts that come from love, generosity, an overflowing heart of affection,...gifts that inspire us to thanksgiving. I don't think anything is so beautiful as someone giving a gift because they really want to. Then the attitude is not one of duty, obligation, but simply as an action of love.
Friends, as you shop, think about the gratefulness that accompanies the gift. Why give gifts? Because of Love... that's why God does it too. That's why he did it in the first Advent...it was because of love.
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
It is the Gift of God in sending his Son that relieved us from a duty bound obligation to measure up and work for our salvation:
Romans 3:24
24 [we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
As Christians the greatest gift has already been given.
2 Corinthians 9:15
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
The next time you find yourself singing a carol playing in the background; or a card comes from a friend just to wish you a Merry Christmas; or you walk in the beauty of creation... realize it's all God, and it's like a whisper: "I hope you like it, I did it just for you."
Peace
Years ago my wife worked in a bank. She once told me that she hated the days in early December as people came in - unhappy and grumpy - because they took money out of their accounts in order to go buy presents they didn't want to buy, for people they didn't want to give them to, because they were "duty bound" to give gifts. It is a miserable way to approach giving gifts...obligation, duty, must, got-to...
Then there are those gifts that come from love, generosity, an overflowing heart of affection,...gifts that inspire us to thanksgiving. I don't think anything is so beautiful as someone giving a gift because they really want to. Then the attitude is not one of duty, obligation, but simply as an action of love.
Friends, as you shop, think about the gratefulness that accompanies the gift. Why give gifts? Because of Love... that's why God does it too. That's why he did it in the first Advent...it was because of love.
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
It is the Gift of God in sending his Son that relieved us from a duty bound obligation to measure up and work for our salvation:
Romans 3:24
24 [we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
As Christians the greatest gift has already been given.
2 Corinthians 9:15
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
The next time you find yourself singing a carol playing in the background; or a card comes from a friend just to wish you a Merry Christmas; or you walk in the beauty of creation... realize it's all God, and it's like a whisper: "I hope you like it, I did it just for you."
Peace
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