Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift to
Us
Christmas is an exciting time for kids. Most of us have watched or are watching
our children get ramped up so they can open all the presents under the
tree. Let me share the story of a 10
year old boy who was as excited as any ten year old boy could be. For him
Christmas was still a time of wonder. He did the things most 10 year olds do.
He played ball, rode his bike, climbed trees, went fishing with his dad. He was
a happy kid. He just enjoyed life – every part of life. To him life was full of
wonder and amazement. And Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year.
It was Christmas Eve and the ground was white with snow. It was cold and it was clear. The stars bright that night and seemed so close that you would have thought you could reach out and touch them with your hands. The family was on their way to the grandparent’s house – that was the family tradition. He could hardly wait. He was excited and his mind just raced with ideas about what he might receive this year. What present would be under the tree for him tonight?
Every year the family would gather in grandpa and grandma’s house. There was always a huge tree and there was always a present under the tree for each person there. The kids would seek peeks at the presents and find out where theirs was located. This young man was usually one of the first to find out where his present was placed – but this year it was different. He didn’t find his right away – even though he searched all over.
He began to worry because he couldn’t find it. Then his eyes caught a big box in the corner. It was a huge box – the biggest present he had ever seen. He slowly walked over to it and sure enough written on the tag were in big letters was his name. He was grinning from ear to ear. His eyes were wide with excitement. He had the biggest present.
Grandpa always handed out the presents. Grandpa was not very fast but this year he seemed especially slow and wouldn’t you know it – his name was the last one called. As soon as his name was called the little boy bolted up to Grandpa – “Is this really mine, is that big present really mine?” Grandpa reassured him it was. As soon as he knew it was his – he tore into the package and what do you think he found? What do you think was inside that large box? It was the best Christmas present he had ever received. It was a gift only God could give….
We all have ideas of what the best present is? We can all picture in our mind what the best presents are. How do you measure the value of a present? How do you judge its worth? By its size, by its weight? Do you judge a present by its cost or perhaps by its usefulness? The real question to ask is what does God think is the greatest gift?
It was Christmas Eve and the ground was white with snow. It was cold and it was clear. The stars bright that night and seemed so close that you would have thought you could reach out and touch them with your hands. The family was on their way to the grandparent’s house – that was the family tradition. He could hardly wait. He was excited and his mind just raced with ideas about what he might receive this year. What present would be under the tree for him tonight?
Every year the family would gather in grandpa and grandma’s house. There was always a huge tree and there was always a present under the tree for each person there. The kids would seek peeks at the presents and find out where theirs was located. This young man was usually one of the first to find out where his present was placed – but this year it was different. He didn’t find his right away – even though he searched all over.
He began to worry because he couldn’t find it. Then his eyes caught a big box in the corner. It was a huge box – the biggest present he had ever seen. He slowly walked over to it and sure enough written on the tag were in big letters was his name. He was grinning from ear to ear. His eyes were wide with excitement. He had the biggest present.
Grandpa always handed out the presents. Grandpa was not very fast but this year he seemed especially slow and wouldn’t you know it – his name was the last one called. As soon as his name was called the little boy bolted up to Grandpa – “Is this really mine, is that big present really mine?” Grandpa reassured him it was. As soon as he knew it was his – he tore into the package and what do you think he found? What do you think was inside that large box? It was the best Christmas present he had ever received. It was a gift only God could give….
We all have ideas of what the best present is? We can all picture in our mind what the best presents are. How do you measure the value of a present? How do you judge its worth? By its size, by its weight? Do you judge a present by its cost or perhaps by its usefulness? The real question to ask is what does God think is the greatest gift?
"This
is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we
might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that
we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship
with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought
to love each other." 1 John 4:9-11
(MSG) More tomorrow...
Merry Christmas you are loved!
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