THE BEST GIFT
He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all; and with this gift how can he fail to lavish upon us all he has to give? Rom. 8:32, N.E.B.
There comes a Christmas in each person's life when, in spite of his youthful inexperience, he must make that bold step of purchasing gifts for the other members of the family. I think I was about 7 years old when my mother guardedly slipped several dollars into my hand and whispered that I should try to get a present for my dad.
While she busied herself at the dress shop I walked down the block to where my dad seemed to enjoy shopping. It was a hardware store. I was too bashful to ask for help from the clerk, so I found something colorful that I guessed I could afford, ignored the inquisitive look of the cashier when I paid for it, and took it home to wrap.
Dad was courteous when he opened it on Christmas morning, even when he asked me what it was. I didn't know. My family later figured out that it was a cloth band to put around cold steering wheels for comfortable early morning driving. I was too embarrassed to ask why Dad never used it.
What would our infinitely wise heavenly Father choose to give us on Christmas morning? Imagine: the ultimate gift from One for whom money is no object and who perfectly knows our needs! He could have given us treasures of exquisite value--works of art, palaces, creature comforts unending.
But instead, He walked down the staircase of heaven with a baby in His arms. He gave us a Person! The perfect gift, designed to meet the deepest need of the heart, the need for a close, loyal, loving Friend. On the surface it would seem to have been easier for our loving Friend to have given from His treasury of things. But all parents know that the greatest joys on Christmas morning come from having given a gift of the finest quality, matched exactly to their children's needs.
And our God, who created us for fellowship with Himself, knows that we could be satisfied with nothing less than the object of that fellowship. He revealed a pattern at Bethlehem: His best gifts come in the form of people. Jesus was not isolated in the sumptuous wrappings of some elite palace. He lived among us in humble, believable form, and authentic life. And He showed us the One whom to know is life eternal.
He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all; and with this gift how can he fail to lavish upon us all he has to give? Rom. 8:32, N.E.B.
There comes a Christmas in each person's life when, in spite of his youthful inexperience, he must make that bold step of purchasing gifts for the other members of the family. I think I was about 7 years old when my mother guardedly slipped several dollars into my hand and whispered that I should try to get a present for my dad.
While she busied herself at the dress shop I walked down the block to where my dad seemed to enjoy shopping. It was a hardware store. I was too bashful to ask for help from the clerk, so I found something colorful that I guessed I could afford, ignored the inquisitive look of the cashier when I paid for it, and took it home to wrap.
Dad was courteous when he opened it on Christmas morning, even when he asked me what it was. I didn't know. My family later figured out that it was a cloth band to put around cold steering wheels for comfortable early morning driving. I was too embarrassed to ask why Dad never used it.
What would our infinitely wise heavenly Father choose to give us on Christmas morning? Imagine: the ultimate gift from One for whom money is no object and who perfectly knows our needs! He could have given us treasures of exquisite value--works of art, palaces, creature comforts unending.
But instead, He walked down the staircase of heaven with a baby in His arms. He gave us a Person! The perfect gift, designed to meet the deepest need of the heart, the need for a close, loyal, loving Friend. On the surface it would seem to have been easier for our loving Friend to have given from His treasury of things. But all parents know that the greatest joys on Christmas morning come from having given a gift of the finest quality, matched exactly to their children's needs.
And our God, who created us for fellowship with Himself, knows that we could be satisfied with nothing less than the object of that fellowship. He revealed a pattern at Bethlehem: His best gifts come in the form of people. Jesus was not isolated in the sumptuous wrappings of some elite palace. He lived among us in humble, believable form, and authentic life. And He showed us the One whom to know is life eternal.
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