Three Gifts

For background, you can read John1:9-18

 “Your Christmas list is too long! If baby Jesus could be happy getting only three gifts then you can be happy with three gifts too!”

~ a mother on the phone to her daughter

Jesus got three gifts, yes, but he brings three gifts of his own: gifts of light, gifts of adoption, and of gifts of blessing upon blessing. What we do with them is up to us. 

First, Jesus brings light to everyone. 

The true light that gives light to every one was coming into the world.  (John 1:9)

Jesus offers light -- illumination -- regardless of race, creed, gender, national origin, political party, sexual orientation, gender preference, past conduct, future conduct, you name it.  God shows his love to everyone – even “the wicked” (count me among them).  Jesus said he causes his rain to fall on the just and on the unjust.  This is love God shows to all people – Bible experts call it common grace, because it's common to all.  

This, of course, speaks to what Christians ought to be known for: actions of love (versus being judgmental, being anti-gay, to name a few).

Jesus brings light to everyone.  This means you.  Let your light shine.  

Second, he brings gifts of adoption.  Since there’s common grace there’s also special grace.  You’re nice to your neighbour’s kids, but you’re especially nice to your own kids.  God’s love is shown uniquely to his own kids.  

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…  (John 1:12)

Anyone who "receives" him simultaneously receives the right to be a son or daughter of God Himself.  For anyone who has trusted in Christ, to take to heart that you’re a child of God can be truly transforming.  Learning to live out of that knowledge of course, becomes a lifelong journey.  

It’s easier to believe other messaging like:  I’m unworthy, I’m less than, God could never forgive me for what I’ve done.  It's easier to believe lies like I'm worthwhile for who I appear to be, who my friends are, for my income, for my "toys," for my trappings.  There's so much more.  

Becoming a child of God opens the door to replacing what is shallow with what is full.  Knowing we are daughters and sons of God opens the door to see ourselves as God sees us:

• Loved, deeply and securely. 
• Unspeakably valuable. Precious, truly. 
• Having peace with God, properly digested, leads to peace within, peace without. 

Peace with God means peace inside.  And peace inside can lead to peace in our other relationships too. 

Third, we receive blessing after blessing through him. 

From the fullness of his grace, we have all received one blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:16-17

In the New Testament, Peter says that Christ's power has given us everything we need for life and holiness.  He's given us all of his great, precious promises, so that through them you can share in God’s very nature.  Paul says that Christ has lavished God’s love and forgiveness on us.  Mary says the answer is blowing in the wind.  Oops – wrong Mary.  :-) 

But seriously folks, as we let his love wash over us: we allow that love to cover our shame, our guilt, our wrongs against God and each other.  We can embrace a "not guilty" for everything we’ve ever regretted.  Stepping into awareness as a child of God, we surrender to God's care and guidance.  We take on his light load, his easy yoke.   We begin to learn what it means to live out of the knowledge that we're his children.  Christmas comes early for the one who trusts Christ.

Jesus bears gifts: of light, of adoption, of blessing upon blessing.  Let your light shine.