By Renee Scheidt

If you’re like me, you’ve been running all over town and spending hours online, shopping for the perfect Christmas gifts. Giving presents to loved ones is a large part of our Christmas celebrations. I enjoy blessing my four grandbabies with something special I’ve selected just for them. It’s very fulfilling to see their delight as they tear off the wrapping paper and discover their new present, especially if it turns out to be “the perfect gift.” Usually, but not always, I hit the nail on the head.

I must confess, however, that by now, what began as something I looked forward to doing has lost its attraction. “Shop til you drop” is more than just a slogan. I’m worn out, spent out, and haven’t even started wrapping these presents. In fact, just a few days ago, I was ready to call my daughter and say, “Come get ’em! I have no more energy left and don’t want to spend hours wrapping these gifts. So, just come get’em.”

Thankfully, by the next day, I had come to my senses and regained enough strength to carry on. Am I the only one who gets stressed trying to find the perfect gift? I think not. But it caused me to wonder: Where did we get this idea of gift-giving at Christmas? Maybe it’s time to stop and reconsider why we do this in the first place. What’s it really all about?

Actually, it was God’s idea. It all started on the very first Christmas morning. God gave us the greatest gift of all when He gave us His Son, Jesus. Our sin has separated us from God, resulting in spiritual and physical death. But because of His great love, God made a way for sin to be punished and for us to be reconciled to Himself. He gave Jesus to pay sin’s penalty. When Jesus died on the cross, the one who was perfect and never sinned, became sin in our place and paid the debt we owe. He personally bore our sins in his body on the tree to make it possible for “whosoever will” to live eternally. Now sin’s debt is paid and eternal life is offered to all who will receive this gift of grace. The Apostle Paul said the reward of sin is death, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:23).

If you want the perfect gift for Christmas, then accept the gift of eternal life God offers. We can’t earn it by good works, nor do we deserve it. That’s why it is given by God’s grace to all who humbly receive Christ. “For by grace are you saved through faith… It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9). Unfortunately, many think being good and moral will save them. They fail to see they can never be good enough and fall far short of what is required to live eternally.

It’s been said, “You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.” God’s unfathomable love was demonstrated when Jesus was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. He was born to die on a cross 33 years later. His death, followed by His Resurrection, was all part of God’s perfect plan to redeem us. In fact, over 350 prophecies given thousands of years earlier by Old Testament saints, were fulfilled by Christ. From the beginning to the end, Christ’s life was orchestrated by His Heavenly Father, planned before the foundation of the world.

As hard as we try, we won’t find the perfect gift each year for those we love. But God’s perfect gift is always available. It’s the most important gift anyone will ever receive. It’s only given, however, to those who accept it. God doesn’t force anyone to take it. Each of us gets to make our own choice. Jesus invites us to come. “Whosoever will let him come and take freely of the water of life” (Rev. 22:17). Why say no to this perfect gift?

“Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!” (II Corinthians 9:15).

Renee Scheidt lives in Salisbury.