2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)
"I can't wait until you see Melody [not her real name] open the present I bought
her for Christmas," our friend said. Melody was an only child, and planning for
Christmas was an exciting event in my friend's home. On Christmas Eve, several
people from our neighbourhood, who couldn't make it home to see their own
families, gathered around our Christmas tree to celebrate together. After
telling the story of the first Christmas, and singing a number of carols, each
child was allowed to open the gift their parents had placed under the tree
earlier in the day.
Melody's parents put a brightly wrapped parcel in her lap, and waited anxiously
for the toddler to open their carefully chosen gift. "Open it, Melody," her
father urged, as he helped her pull the tape off the wrapping paper. Melody
turned the package over slowly, and picked at the paper. "Hurry," her father
urged again and again. She hugged the parcel close to her body but made no
further attempt to unwrap it. The father couldn't contain his excitement any
longer, so he pulled the colourful clown out of its box, and handed it to his
daughter. Melody, ignoring the gift, turned to pick up the scraps of coloured
paper and the empty box. A look of disappointment crossed her father's face. The
gift so lovingly given had been rejected.
I wonder how God feels when we, like Melody, reject His priceless gift. Sadly,
many of us are more content to play with the packaging of the season than to
accept the gift of salvation made possible through God's one and only son, Jesus
Christ.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us that the brightly coloured packaging that the world
has wrapped around this holy season is empty and without meaning. Help us to
accept your gift, Jesus Christ, with grateful hearts. Amen.
By Elaine Ingalls Hogg, Smiths Creek, New Brunswick, Canada, Assistant
Submissions Editor for the "Daily", Copyright 2003. Reprinted by permission. For
free daily email subscription to the Daily visit:
http://daily.presbycan.ca .
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.