SHARE Magazine October 2016 | Page 19

These may sound like harsh words, but they are the plain truth. The weeks up to Christmas will come with all the temptations of vanity. Each year folks get more and more in debt. Nothing is wrong with buying gifts, but we have lost perspective. Our motive for celebrated Christmas is wrong. It’s not about self-centred celebration. Yes, it is a good time of the year to get together with families and friends to have meals and open gifts and hopefully be of good cheer but remember the many poor folks around the world or the elderly on their own or the lonely people who never get gifts. We should not be looking to how many gifts we can stuff into the sack but how much oil we have in our lamps (how much of Jesus we have in our souls). fect Gift is Jesus. He is the only peace, contentment and joy we could ever have. He came to do the will of the Father and He achieved it on the cross, fulfilled it all for us so that one day we will be with Him in glory. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 It was a gift, we didn’t have to do anything. Now, who on earth can refuse a gift like that - millions do and millions will! This wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus Christ was rejected in the past, is presently and will be in the future. But praise God, many will hear the truth and accept it. We as born again, Holy Spirit Christians, must seek the Father in earnest and ask daily for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit to tell people of the gift of Jesus. That He is their only hope. No matter how many presents they get at Christmas it will not save them from the eventual destruction to come. Let us ask ourselves, what is more important, the gifts of the world or the gift of Jesus from a heavenly loving Father? Do we invite Jesus in, after all, it is His birthday we are celebrating? Do we throw Him a surprise party every year or send Him an invitation? Does He seriously need it? No He does not! He is inviting people to Him. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”Revelation 3:20 He is the gift to be with us until the end of the age and throughout eternity. He is a gift that cannot be bought at any price. It cannot be stressed enough — He is the priceless, perfect gift of salvation. As each Christmas comes and goes it is getting a STEP EVER SO CLOSER TO JESUS’ COMING BACK! Are we ready? p Further reading: www.jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/gift.htm October - December 2016 By Lynda K Smith writer, proof reader, poet and Evangelist SHARE|MAGAZINE | 19