The Gift of Christmas

TODAY: Now, not tomorrow is the time to act. God does not wait for us to be perfect; he is willing to use very imperfect instruments. What matters is that the instruments should be available for his use. The results of our efforts are not in our hands, but in his. But he has given us the assurance that "it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful," and that where that faithfulness is found, he is able "to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think." (The Amsterdam Weekly, 19th Century)

Was it very cold?
Was she very frightened?
Did she want her mother
Instead of this man?
Why were they there anyway?
A census where you had to go . . .
What's that?
Could a baby born here
Change the world?
Could a tiny infant so helpless
Make such a difference?
What were they thinking?
And yet there was a change.
And yet the angels came.
And yet there was new hope.
Is there still?

It probably seems strange to see a Christmas poem at the beginning of Lent. Yet God's great gift to us begins with the birth of His son. Imagine, God sending His son to be an infant, to play in the dirt, to learn to saw wood, to grow up in a completely human way. And yet, God does.

God continues His gift to us as Jesus begins his ministry and preaches to all who will listen. He tells us of God's great love for us, of His caring and concern. We can hardly comprehend it. And yet, God has His son preach on.

And then comes the greatest gift. God allows His son to die for us on the cross. In His name he takes away all of our sins, failures, misdirections, wrongs . . . all of it. Jesus dies for us so that we may be forgiven. He suffers, and yet God gives us this gift.

Do we have to pay for this gift? Do we have to do good deeds? Do we have to earn our forgiveness? No. We merely have to accept God's grace and love and believe and have faith in the One who gave it. What an amazing gift. Is there still hope? God's gift assures us that there is.

— Bev Kinego

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist