IT is that time of the year again when we consider what we can buy as Christmas gifts for those we love. A time for head scratching, being stressed, asking: "Whatever can I get that they will appreciate and want?"
A time for men to follow their wives or lady friends about in shops, carrying bags of presents and looking at a multitude of things that they are not remotely interested in. A time to be told: “I do not want anything this year!” But believe it if you
dare.
A time of wrapping, sealing and hiding gifts in strange places then forgetting where you put them.
Why do we do these things? By doing so we remind ourselves of the gifts the wise men brought to the infant Jesus, convinced that He was a great King.
Are you one of those people who consider that they have everything they want and nothing else is needed?
But the gift that God gives is something very special and necessary for each one of us.
The good news is that the gift is already purchased, opened and enjoyed by many but still waiting to be claimed by others.
It seems unlikely that presents will be left under the tree unopened this Christmas, yet many have chosen to ignore the greatest gift of all which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Gifts are given because of love for one another and God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Over the centuries millions of people have found that the wise men were right, Jesus is King, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christmas is a time for celebrating His birth and giving thanks. In the words of the apostle Paul: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” (2 Cor 9:15).
It would be tragic if you opened all your presents this year which will pass away with time, and ignored the one gift which last forever.
The full article contains 351 words and appears in Suffolk Free Press newspaper.
