Bring On The Gifts!

Saturday December 18, 2010

Today's Passage: Psalms 96:8-10
Memory Verse: John 3:16

Bring gifts and celebrate, bow before the beauty of God.  Then to your knees--everyone worship!  Get out the message--God rules!  He put the world on a firm foundation; He treats everyone fair and square.
Psalms 96:8-10

Hello Family and Friends!  I pray the joy and peace of this holiday season surrounds you on every side.  Yassah and I love this time of year.  The atmosphere is usually filled with love, forgiveness, and restoration.  Family members who haven't spoken to each other all year, find a way to get together for Christmas.  And for humanity, that's always a good thing.

To be honest with you, very few people know what Christmas is all about.  Yea, yea I know we know WHO it's about.  But do we really know WHAT it's about.  Christmas is about a gift.  Yes, a gift.  John, in chapter 3 verse 16,  wrote "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son....".  See, a gift is something given voluntarily without payment in return.   So giving a gift tells the receiver of that gift they are chosen.  It says they're special, singled out, or sanctified (set apart).  So when God gave Jesus to the world, it said we matter to Him.  It said we had been set apart.  Don't you feel special?

With all that being said, God deserves gifts too.  He deserves to be singled out.  The world is full of copy cats and wanna be's.  So God needs His people to bring fame to His name.  So let's bring gifts of hospitality, singing, and love to celebrate Him.  There's nothing more wonderful than being in an atmosphere where everyone is displaying their gifts and every joint is supplying.  Then, as one, let's bow before the beauty of God.  His very essence takes our breath away.  There's no one like Him....no one.  The fun begins when we fall to our knees and worship.  Yes!  Time to take this thing to another level.  This kind of worship leaves the flesh behind.  There are no worries, no sickness, and no burdens here.  It's all relationship.  He's showing His face and we're down on ours.  It's the perfect depiction of servant and King.  Now let's get the message out--God rules!  How do we do it?  We do it with character.  We do it with showing the love of Jesus in our community.  It can't be accomplished by religious routine.  It has to be done through the devotion and praise of the kingdom.  Let's shout it together Td Nation....You rule God....You rule.

Finally, as you present gifts to your loved ones, bring God's gifts to Him.  Continue to honor Him with your life.  He's been good to us all year long.  So let's take time to acknowledge Him.  Afterall, it's His favorite time of year too. 

Prayer:  Father I thank You for the great gift you gave.  I wouldn't be where I am today without Jesus.  Because You gave so much, I commit myself to give my gifts to You.  If You want me to sing, I'll sing.  If You want me to dance, I'll dance.  Whatever You want, it's Yours.  In Jesus' name. Amen.