Believe: Christmas Devotions
Day 6: Makes You Wanna Shout
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8
One of the best things about Christmas is giving gifts! It is so fun to watch the recipient’s face light up with happiness and excitement over the gift they’ve just received. And truthfully, being the giver of a gift can be more fulfilling and exciting than being the receiver. Sometimes the giver is so excited they just can’t wait! Have you ever been so excited to give a gift that you just couldn’t wait until Christmas Day? It is such a great feeling to give good gifts! However, if we’re honest, the process leading up to giving the gift can be a little stressful. It takes hard work to choose the perfect gift. The decision on what to get, where to get it, how to get it and if it will arrive on time can leave us feeling overwhelmed and tired which can steal joy from the holiday season. But on Christmas morning, all that is forgotten and you become alive with joy and the excitement for that day as you exchange gifts and cherish the gift of Jesus.
We love to give good gifts but no one loves to give gifts more than God! His gifts far exceed anything we could ever give or offer here on earth. With God, there is no naughty or nice list. It does not matter what you have done this past year, he guarantees you the gift of salvation. He looks past your mistakes, weaknesses, and failures and sees the good he created inside of you. God does not care if you have never been to church or if you have never opened a Bible in your life. Jesus covered the cost and reserved a place for you in heaven and there is nothing you have to do to earn it. The hard work is done and you simply get to enjoy it. The gift of his saving grace is simply and purely out of his great love, thoughtfulness and kindness to you. God cares for you so much that he wants nothing more than to honor you and seat you at the table beside his son Jesus Christ. You know how you feel giving good gifts, imagine the excitement and shouts of joy in heaven when God gives his gift of salvation to you! It’s enough to make you wanna shout!
Ephesians 2:4, Matthew 7:11 Psalm 66:1
Wynter Kettlewell 