A Gift Like No Other

Do you feel like you are waiting for something extraordinary to happen in your life? 

For instance, I’ve sometimes found myself repeatedly checking my email with a vague sense of hope. Hope for what, exactly, am I expecting to pop up, is what I have to ask myself. 

Answer - I’m not sure, but I’m hoping for something new. A breakthrough or a win of some kind. 

Some good news from someone. I don’t want to miss it and want something extraordinary to happen.

Can you relate or am I alone in this?  

Giving myself the benefit of not being crazy, I bet you can. 

I think we are all checking for some news. Out of habit even. Mindlessly doing it. Mechanically reaching for our phones, hoping, and looking for something.  

I believe we are all waiting, all yearning for something that can and will change everything. 

Something remarkable, indeed, that makes us, finally, amazingly significant and completely secure. 

Here’s the million dollar question: What if that extraordinary something has already happened? 

I mean, could it be, we are waiting for something that has already happened to us?🤔

What if we knew the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of Kings, wanted to be with us, wanted us in His family, in His home forever?

What if the King of Kings wanted you so badly that He would give up His only son to be with you?  

To have His son bear all our pains, and transgressions. Stand in our place and endure underserved, brutal, and deadly punishment for our wrongdoings. 

He not only allowed it, but provided us direct access, through His son and the Holy Spirit, to Him whenever we want. With the desire that we talk to Him often. 

He’s not asking us to try harder, but trust that the work has already been done to bring us into His family. He wants to spend eternity - His Eternity with us! 

If we are mindful of this, and you truly believe it, how does this not leave us positively shocked and joyful? 

How does it not leave us less apt to take and keep offense, be easily hurt, and quick to judge others when we think they have done something wrong? 

If we do believe it, we will be less apt to criticize, slower to anger, more forgiving, and more patient. 

We will be known for being loving toward one another, because we have the resources to do just that. 

We finally found what we’ve always wanted – significance and security from the only one who can really give us both.  

A gift from the King of Kings. 

If this is true, then our actions will point to the truth of Jesus and that we actually belong to Him. 🌟

And sure enough, in God’s word, Jesus turns to his followers and says the following about how people will know that we belong to Him…

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

John 13:34-35 

Simply, Jesus says, believe in me and Love like me. 

As we prepare to celebrate this Christmas season with friends, family, and in some cases, people we barely know, may your heart, mind, and spirit be centered and anchored on the truth of Jesus. His Hope, Peace, Promise and Love. 

The love (extraordinary gift) of our Heavenly Father. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

I hope this Christmas week, and especially Christmas Day, you experience rest and great joy found in peace that God offers. 

Sweet Blessings, 

Brock 

Credit: This message was inspired from the incredible book by Brandt Hansen titled: UNoffendable. An outstanding read for everyone. 

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