Every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17 (NIV)
Christmas is upon us once again. Time to get serious about Christmas shopping. Each year I dread it more because I find it increasingly harder to buy the right gifts for my husband and three grown sons.
Thankfully, my heavenly Father doesn’t suffer the same dilemma. He has no use for a wish list because He is intimately acquainted with every part of my life. His gifts can’t be found in any store or any website; they are priceless and His alone. From the air I breathe to His amazing grace, God’s gifts are perfect and the expression of His personal love for me.
God’s greatest gift to humankind was given to us at Christmas; His one and only beloved Son. Anyone – that means you and me – who believes in Him receives eternal life. Have you accepted God’s gift? Have you claimed Him as your LORD and Savior? If you haven’t taken this life-changing step, please skip to the end of this post and read Knowing God. Take the time to read through it, then claim His gift of salvation. It’s the best gift you will ever receive.
Thought: “Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” – Corrie Ten Boom
For further reading:
- Psalm 139:1-18
- Lamentations 3:23
- John 3:16
- Matthew 7:11
Knowing God
If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, I would encourage you to read the Scriptures below and pray the simple prayer of repentance at the end. The salvation God offers us is a gift. It’s simple and it’s free. He offers it to you, the only condition being that you accept it.
- We have all sinned
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV)
- Because of our sin, we cannot live in communion with God
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV)
- God loved us so much, that he sent his Son to die as the penalty for our sins.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV).
- We cannot gain our way into heaven. All God asks of us is that we accept his gift of grace.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.
- Accept God’s gift of grace and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
The jailer… asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:19-31
Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Romans 10:13.
Pray with me. “I acknowledge I am a sinner. I know that my sins keep me from enjoying fellowship with you. Thank you for sending Jesus to die in my place. Please forgive my sins and help me live in a way that is pleasing to you. I accept your gift of grace and ask you to reign in my life as Lord and Savior from this day forward. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
If you’ve prayed this prayer, then I welcome you into God’s family. You are now a child of God. I would encourage you to find a fellowship of believers where you can learn more about your wonderful heavenly Father and the grace he’s extended to you. Read your Bible and pray on a regular basis in order to grow in your faith and live a life that is pleasing to him.
May God richly bless you as you begin a new life in Christ.