The Missing Gift

It’s Christmas Day, 2018, one more Christmas Eve has passed, in our family the gifts that were laid under the tree are already opened, and for many others they are too, or shortly will be. Friends, I want to ask you this morning, did you get what you wanted? Did you get what you needed? Did you get what you asked for? Was there a gift that was missing?

Now that most of the giving and receiving of gifts has passed and we can settle down and enjoy the day. Maybe now we can take a minute to stop and reflect upon a gift that was missing in all the planned chaos?

Often times we see the Fireworks lighting up the night, people celebrating in the spirit of the holidays, people rushing around trying to make time for just one more little get together, and one more little “cup of cheer” before the night was done. We call it the “holiday spirit,” but it certainly isn’t the true “Spirit of Christmas”. Why? Because from my observation, Jesus was nowhere in it.

Finally the kids that were hyped in anticipation begin to wear down, it's time to go home and settle down for a good night’s sleep – unless you were up all night working the assembly line. Exhausted, most finally crashed into bed, closed their eyes, took a deep breath and tried to remember, “What have I left out? Is there something I forgot? Is there someone I failed to think about? I certainly don’t want to offend anyone. They will never forgive me and I’ll never hear the end of it.”

What gift could they have possibly missed? I know how it is, some of you spent more than you had planned to, and more than you could really afford. There always seems to be just one more person that you needed to add to your list. There’s just one more thing that you forgot to pick up. Some of the famous last words at Christmas time are, “just one more little item and I’ll be done.” It’s always those last little items that wind up breaking the bank account and sending the credit card balance to its limits.

But with all of the money that’s been spent trying to show how much we love and care for those around us, and with all the presents that have wrapped and unwrapped, there is no doubt in my mind this morning that most of the world has left out a few very important gifts. First there is a gift that has been given, but was never accepted. Secondly, there is a gift that should have been given, but wasn’t!

What is that gift that was not accepted?

Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

I’m so glad that I am a Christian this morning. I’m so glad that Christmas means more to me than just tinsel, garland, gifts and parties. Christmas exists because in time eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, there was one pinpoint of time upon which God focused all of His love.

Jesus lives in eternity, without time limitations and restrictions. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. He chose to robe himself in flesh, to become a man for one brief moment of eternity, because He loved you and I so much. God could have just let us go. He could have said, “they chose to rebel, I don’t need them, just forget the whole thing.” But because of His great love, His mercy and His grace, Jesus chose not to forget man whom He had created.

Galatians 4:4-5, "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

The Greatest Gift that mankind could ever receive is the Gift of redemption from sin, purchased by the blood of God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet, that is the one gift that most of the world will not accept.

As far as the gift that most people have failed to give, let me say it this way. In all of their worry and concern about offending someone by not giving them a gift or sending them a Christmas Card, it is amazing that very few people consider that they failed to give the most important gift of all – the gift of their lives to Jesus!

Jesus wants a gift from each of us this morning. He wants us to give him all of our burdens. He wants us to give him all of our doubts and fears. He wants us to give him all of our sin. He wants us to give him praise and glory for what He has done, and because He is God. He wants us to give him our hearts and lives in service. That’s only reasonable because He bought and paid for your life with His own blood.

The simple points of this message are:

First, make sure that you open and accept the most precious gift you can ever receive, given to you by God, who robed in flesh to become that baby in the manger, the one who grew up sinless and died on the cross for you. His name is Jesus! Open your heart and accept Him as your Savior, repent and be baptized in Jesus' name for the remission of your sin, and receive the Holy Ghost! Take hold this morning of eternal life and the blessings that Jesus has in store for you.

Second, make sure that you don’t leave out the most important gift of all that you can give to the One who is the most important person on your list. Give your heart and life to Jesus. That’s what Christmas is really all about.

It’s not just that a baby was born in a manger. Babies have been born in adverse circumstances on countless occasions and not one of them has had the impact of this one baby in Bethlehem. It’s not just that Jesus grew up and found favor with men and with God. There have been a lot of people through history who could be described in that manner. It’s because Jesus gave His life on the cross for us all, dying there for your sins and mine, and then rising again the third day so that we could have eternal life. That’s the true gift of Christmas.

Have you accepted that gift? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Don’t allow this Christmas Day to pass without receiving and giving the greatest gifts of all.