Monday, November 28, 2016
My wife and I decided to try a gift exchange this year between our four children. Each one of the kids drew names of one of their siblings. It was amazing to see the expression on their faces-- not only getting to keep a secret, but also knowing that one day soon they would be able to share that secret and give their gift to each other. How exciting!
ADVENTURES IN ADVENT: GIFT EXCHANGE!
Advent is a countdown of the days until Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birthday. Each one of us and our families may have a variety of traditions that we do as we prepare for that great celebration. But none of those traditions can compare to what the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, 15: "Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and throughout your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God ... Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"
As we transition from Thanksgiving to Advent and from Advent to Christmas, we are reminded how our Heavenly Father has graciously supplied us with every need. We have been "made rich in every way" resulting in "Thanksgiving to God." But this "harvest of riches" described here is correctly described as the gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus our promised Savior. The greatest gift exchange of all time is that Jesus came to take your countless debt of sins and guilt on Himself, and in their place give you the free gift of His grace and redeeming love. This gift means salvation from death! This gift is your ticket to heaven through Him! This indescribable gift, this inheritance from Christ, is one that can never perish, spoil or fade away (1 Peter 1:4).
During this Advent season, as we prepare our gifts to exchange, let's remember the greatest gift exchange of all time in Christ our Savior. And let's pray to remember that just as our Lord Jesus has made each of us "rich in every way" you and I "can be generous on every occasion." We can be generous not just with earthly gifts, but with the greatest Christmas Gift of all: The good news of our Savior Jesus Christ!
