“Time For Gift Giving”

It’s the time of the year when we begin thinking about Christmas presents for the kids and grandkids. What will bring them joy and help them in their life…. and is within our budget ? (the cruise to the Caribbean will have to wait.) I have to admit that my wife is the one to plan ahead…I’m a Dec. 24^thshopper… usually not good. The bottom line is that we want to bring joy to our family; we want to see a smile on their face. Most of all we want that initial joy to develop into an everlasting joy.

I was thinking about the presents that God gives to us. God is frequently pictured as all business, mainly dishing our orders and warnings. Well, any good fathers wants to keep his family safe and does give out instructions, but it’s because he wants his family to be happy. God wants us to be happy …now and forever.

The reading today from Isaiah gives some wonderful clues into God’s desires for us….. for our happiness. 

“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:6-9)

Truly this is what the Lord desires for his children. He desires happiness and joy. He wants to see us with a smile, joyful, and satisfied. He know that death and sin have caused us the greatest of sorrows, so he has conquered them on our behalf. While the presents we give our family may cost us a few dollars, his gifts for us cost him the death of his beloved son. (John 3:16) Yet, he gives the gift with joy, anticipating our joy and happiness. 

Our God is a great and wonderful and loving father. Let’s trust in his goodness. Let’s prepare our hearts to receive all that he wants to give us. Whatever gift we receive from God during this time of our life, it’s the best…..  it’s what we need. Let’s respond to those gifts with a big smile and a big thank you. Wow, I’m getting excited.