OzThoughts Thursday 13th November 2008

OzThoughts Thursday 13th November 2008

Yesterday, I got an email from a Christian group selling merchandise for Christmas. With the international exchange rate as it is at the moment and the high cost of postage, it would be impractical possible for me to purchase any of the items.

I loved the short message on each of the items. It simply said: “Jesus is the gift”. My immediate reaction was “What a great theme”. It fits right into the concern of most people in this coming season of Christmas. On one level it is the great season of gift giving.

This theme reminds us in the season of Christmas giving that Jesus is the gift. He is the initial and real gift of the Christmas season.

St Paul tells the Ephesians that “It's God's gift from start to finish!”

Yes, Jesus is the gift”.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (The Message)

7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.


PRAYER:

Today, I come to you Heavenly Father in thanksgiving for the “clear and plain” message of the coming Christmas season. I thank you for the babe of Bethlehem who came for me. I praise you for that gift of love, and I pray today that I might live worthy of your love and share it with others. I pray for the ministry of your Church as we prepare for this season of Goodwill and Good News. Amen.

Love has a language, all its own making,
Voiced in its giving, love gives its best;
Instant and constant with joy while awaking,
Tells its own story--love stands the test.

Chorus
Love stands the test,
Love gives its best,
Love planned our life's course, designedly blest;
Love won in the garden,
Love climbed the green hill;
Love will live on,
for love stands the test.

Love's life is always all its best giving,
Giving, it lives, for love thrives on this;
Thus, when the best in this world is decaying,
Love will live on, for love stands the test.

Love's gift is God's gift--God is all-loving;
We can be like him in this blest quest;
Let love's sweet echo in you be resounding:
Love will live on, For love stands the test.
Author: Joseph Buck (1889-1945)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 51

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