These are the weeks before Christmas.
The darkest days of the year fall gently down upon us.
And in the hushed quiet, in the dark of the come-early night, we sit with bated breath. We’ve been given a gift. One we didn’t have to make, bake, sew, buy, wrap, bag or tag.
One we are simply given and softly nudged to accept.
This year, will we open our present early?
Come. Just unwrap the paper from this corner, peeling back the tape. Go ahead. Look. It’s all right—keep breathing. I know, I know … breathtaking, isn’t it?
Jewels bestowed upon the commonplace, treasures that could never be asked for, riches that wouldn’t dare be written on any wish list.
Here– allay your nagging fears and read the card tag again, just to make certain. In perfect script, there it is: “To you, my Beloved. Forever Yours, God.”
Yes, hard as it is to comprehend, it is meant for you.
Go ahead— take it out of the box. Read the words:
My gift of THE BEST OF EVERYTHING for you:
“Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?” (Ro 8:32 NLT)
The impossible has already been done, finished, accomplished. The gift of His Son, Jesus, makes you —me, chief among sinners— right with the very God of the Universe. So if He was willing to do that, isn’t it a fait de accompli that He will give you everything else that is good for you? He has already given the most staggering. Thus, He will withhold nothing.
Who could need more? But there is; there is more! Go on.
My gift of Rest for you:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28 NIV)
Rest. Oh, how did He know? Lip trembles. How did He know how weary you were, how hard you have tried, but how much further you have to go? Ah, yes, sweet, blissful rest. Rest that is now yours, a rest that you can live in, permanently. No eviction notices. A rest that is Him.
Then comes the smile, the almost giddy laughter with the marvel—the perfection—of it all.
There is more.
My gift of KEYS for you:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:9 NIV)
Haven’t you felt powerless, imprisoned, in so many ways, for so many years? He’s just handed you the keys. Emancipation. Release, it yours, today.
Keep going.
My gift of PROTECTION for You:
“See what I’ve given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you.” (Luke 10:19 MSG)
Oh, He knew how scared you were, how concerned and unsure! And He has bestowed protection, safety, security. Breathe deeply. And laugh at the pure relief of it all.
My gift of PERMANENT FULFILLMENT for you:
“Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” (Jn 14:14 MSG)
Yes, that does mean what you think it means! You’ll never run out, run empty, run dry again. Your agonizing spells of parched dryness are forever obliterated. Yes, this is reality. It is a reality more otherworldly than dreams. Don’t suppress the laughter—you really are waking into the truth from the dreams you once called living.
My Last and Lasting Gift of PEACE for you:
“I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace.” (Jn 14:27 MSG)
Only tears now quietly accept the final, extravagant gift. Once broken, now whole; once terminal, now cured; once anxiety-wracked, now limitless, shoreless peace.
These may be the darkest weeks of the year.
But a brilliant shaft of light has pierced, shattered, cracked up the black, flooding you, your family, in the warmth of Light—the Light of the World.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Isa. 9:2)
Aren’t you pleased that you opened your present early? You needed to.
Now you have real reason to celebrate.
Father, today we dance. We’ve opened our present early. And You are everything we’ve ever wished for.
