Advent Joy and Christmas Presents

Someone gave me a Target gift card for my birthday because they just get me. I got to use said gift card on a rare semi-solo trip where it was just me and my youngest. Micah is still at an age where he isn’t yet tempted by the shelves of toys and goodies and is content to just sit in the cart and make googly eyes at mama.

We took this trip in mid-November so my daughter’s early December birthday and Christmas were on my mind. While I did manage to find one new sweater for myself, we spent most of our trip wandering the toy aisles. Since we became parents, I have always said I didn’t want to go crazy with gifts for our kids - in particular the toys they would only really play with for a day and then discard into the nightmare that is their toy chest. For one, our budget doesn’t allow for that kind of extravagance, and two, I would rather spend money on experiences they will remember or bigger items they will love and use longer.

And yet, here I was, trying to physically restrain myself from putting every single one of these nonsense toys into our cart. I could imagine my children’s faces light up when they received each of these cheesy toys. I knew exactly which ones my daughter would lose her mind over, even if she only played with them for a day. By God’s grace, I think I walked out of there with only two small additional stocking stuffers, but the struggle was real.

While I’m excited to give my daughter a new bike Christmas morning and while I know our infant will have a field day with all the ribbons and wrapping paper, there is a greater gift I earnestly pray my children will receive one day. It’s a gift that they don’t deserve. It’s a gift that will meet all of their deepest needs. It’s a gift that the world says they don’t need and it’s the gift I have dedicated my life to share with them. It’s the gift that we’ve been talking about for 24 days now.

It’s the gift of our salvation.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

By God’s grace and because of his great love for his people, he gave his Son, Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as a sacrifice for our sins. His death on the cross gave us the gift of salvation and eternal life.

But this gift doesn’t stop at the cross. It’s a gift that keeps giving. In addition to redeeming us from our sins, God has lavished the riches of his grace upon us (Ephesians 1:7-9). He gave us an inheritance “that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). He guards our hearts with his perfect peace when anxiety overwhelms us (Philippians 4:6-7). He gives us strength when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He grants us wisdom when we ask (James 1:5). He gives us comfort in our times of sorrow (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). He allows us to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in our lives by daily sanctifying us that we may reflect him (Galatians 5:22-23). The list goes on and on and on

While the world looks at this glorious gift and tries to lessen its worth and undermine its value (1 Corinthians 1:18), the gift of our salvation only grows in glory every day God gives us on earth. This gift can’t be stolen off our front porches. It can’t be replaced by the next newest model. It is sufficient to stand with us in everything we face in this world.

As this Advent season starts to come to a close, don’t overlook the wonder of this gift. Let the joy of your salvation be the fuel for the joy of this season. That joy won’t wane as the wrapping paper is ripped off. It won’t falter when your children’s new toys lose their luster. This eternal gift meets your soul’s deepest needs and brings with it every spiritual blessing heaven has to offer (Ephesians 1:3).

Don’t keep this gift all to yourself. Share the good news of this gift with everyone you can. Proclaim the salvation our gracious God has brought to the world to your neighbors, your friends, and your family. Let the joy of your salvation be a light to this dark world. Rejoice and worship at this incredible gift our God has given to us!