Posted on 12/24/2011 6:20:46 AM PST by Making_Sense [Rob W. Case]
If someone were to ask you what you got for Christmas last year, what would you say? Would you even remember everything you got last year, or would you only remember the things that still serve you use today? It’s also interesting how we can recall that certain people gave us certain things for Christmas. For example, when I look in my personal movie collection, and I see certain titles, I remember (and may even think briefly about) the person who gave that title to me as a gift. And so, these things got me thinking about something deeper.
How long has it been since the world has known about Jesus? The world has known about Jesus since he walked this earth, did all sorts of extraordinary things, died for us ever so jagged hearted individuals, and in his life, death, and resurrection, conquered everything that we are likely to fail in, and/or fall prey to. And so, amidst this backdrop of events, I feel compelled to ask, have you ever actually received this gift? Have you ever utilized this gift? If you have, how has God’s gift helped you? What I find so profound is that so many people remember the exact day when they received this gift, and can recall on many levels what that gift has done in their lives for them, and what it’s still actively doing for them to this day. And yet on the other side, I know many others who have received it, but have either given up on learning how to work it, or put it aside as not as high of a priority. And there are even more that, for whatever reason, decide that they do not want it at all.
What I find absolutely fascinating is how my gift continues to work on my behalf on a daily basis. When I mentioned in the last paragraph that Jesus conquered everything that we are likely to fail in, and/or fall victim to, I can recall how he has offered me help, assistance, mental stability, perseverance, the will to keep going, and a sense of peace and tranquility through turbulent and trying obstacles, distractions, stressful situations, and in dealing with difficult people. In other words, he has helped to provide a “buffer” if you will, which helps to minimize or prevent lasting damage in various areas. When I think of how many times I have been upset, angry, stressed out, I realize how much my savior has saved me….not only on a spiritual level… but from myself, in how I was thinking about taking on those challenges which (if I focused on that alone), I am convinced, would have resulted in a lot of ugliness.
When I think about how people react to trivial things (as if their lives solely depended on them and them alone), or try to build themselves up by tearing others down, or willfully deceive people to try to get them to conform to a system that benefits them, it goes to show one how sin affects everyone on so many levels. And without so much as an awareness or slightest discernment of the damage it does to one’s self and others, its darkness continues to spread to the mind, consume the soul, and exalt and prioritize “ME” above all else. But despite what darkness does to the soul, light always overpowers darkness, and when that light has the potential to identify what the darkness conceals, penetrate the root problems of things, and work to eradicate them once and for all, peace of mind can then be within reach. These are only some of the benefits that Christ can do for you. In these hard, troubling, and detrimental times, everyone has needs, and this gift supplies all of them (Philippians 4:19) if one is willing to receive it, trust in Him, and from that trust, seek out answers and wait diligently on him to formulate, arrange, and work out those things for you.
I think the most unique thing about this gift from God, who does so much for me, is that He is the King of this world, and a Kingdom that is not far off in coming after this one has fallen completely apart with absolutely no hope for recovery whatsoever the way things stand and continue to descend. And you know something? On so many levels, many of these characteristics mirror in numerous ways, many of very conditions that this King was born into, a King that would work to energize and strengthen his Kingdom by empowering and strengthening his servants, and providing them with what they need to keep it together, offer a perspective that minimizes things that we may dwell too deeply on, understand and call things out for what they are, persevere, and let others know what this Kingdom consists of, so that they too, can take part in the magnitude of hope offered to those who simply decide to receive this gift; the gift the ultimate gift that God gave us; the gift that is Jesus Christ.
My Christmas present last year was love, same as it will be this year.
I think one of the biggest problems in this world is that everybody focuses so hard on the tangible, that the intangible traits and qualities end up being shoved aside, or discarded entirely from our daily routine. And as this becomes the focus, the traits that come from the Holy Spirit gradually dim from society.
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