The first response to the above title, for most people, would be ‘what’s the catch?’
From mid October Christmas is wrapped up in the offers you can get on the items you might purchase. Just the thought of making a saving for some reason compels us to buy, whether you need them or not.
This push on getting sales triggers the motivation and the thought process, for some people, with the quandary: what will I get them this year?
You need ideas and you want to top the present of last year. Once you fight your way through the anguish of buying the right gift, you hope the present will blow them away, if it does then you can relax; wow, Christmas is over. Well done!
For some of us this is Christmas, this is why we feel so relieved when it is over.
The question we ask each year tends to be: what do you want this Christmas? I would like us to ask: what do you need?
If our greatest need had been information, God would have
sent us an educator;
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;
But our greatest need is forgiveness, love and hope, so God sent us a Saviour.
Can you believe it? A Christmas offer, 100% off and there is no catch! It costs us nothing, but it cost Christ everything. You
and I can receive this gift of grace, a gift that God brought into place at Christmas; are we brave enough to open it? The presents we exchange are meant to symbolize the heart and meaning of this offer. Our celebrations are meant to focus on this very message.
May our exchanges this year deliver the message of Christmas; for those alone who need to know they are thought of, for those who are just down who need to know there is joy, for those who are in need there is hope, for those who are hurting need to know there is healing and forgiveness, and for all
people there is love, our greatest need and it costs us nothing.
May the peace of Christ be with you all, now and always.
