2008-12-19 - The Thought

Originally Published 2005-12-27

For several years now, I have given small gifts to friends to celebrate Christmas. I used to be all wrapped up in gift exchanges, and I forgot that getting the latest developments in computers and power tools wasn't what Christmas was all about. It was not what the gatherings should have been about even. Now to friends, I often give just simple small gifts. They understand the warm thought of friendship behind these small gifts. God also gives small gifts with big thoughts behind them.

My wife gave birth to one such gift, our 6.8-pound firstborn child, in 2000. He was and still is an amazing gift given to us by God. With an average weight at birth of 7.5 pounds, each precious child represents a small but great gift to parents. Parents don't have to pass a test, get a license, or even have a desire to be great parents, in order to get a gift as wonderful as a small child. The Bible tells us, "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him." (Psalms 127:3 NLT) Newborns prove that it's not the size of the gift that matters. It truly is the heart within the gift, or the thought behind the gift, that matters. God gave another small gift long ago to the entire world, with great thoughts behind it.

The thought behind the gift of the Christ child was a thought of love.

Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The thought behind the gift of the infant Savior was a thought of mercy.

Luke 1:78-79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, ⁷⁹ To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The thought behind the gift of the baby King was a thought of hope.

Hebrews 7:19 - For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

The thought behind the gift of the incarnate God was a thought of victory.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The thought behind God's gift speaks volumes. Will you receive his gift and the thoughts that come with it? Will you put the gift on a shelf, or will you share it with others?

Will you return the love shown to you and give a gift to God? The wise men could bring expensive gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Joseph gave his dear wife, Mary, to God. Mary gave her womb to the Lord. The shepherds gave merely a gift of their time to come and see and then to go and tell. Some gave big, and others gave small, but they each placed great thoughts into the gifts they could bring. What gift, big or small, will you bring before Jesus?

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted