The Perfect Christmas

Many years ago, my friend, Bob, described to me how he envisioned the perfect Christmas. He said, "I’m sitting on an old fashioned park bench next to my girlfriend, under an old fashion park lamp. The snow is lightly falling, and I pull a small wrapped gift out of my pocket and give it to my girl. She opens it and throws her arms around me. That would be my perfect Christmas."

And I don’t know if it every played out that way, though he did marry a wonderful woman. I’m not sure that’s how they got engaged, but it was a heart-warming mental picture.

What would your perfect Christmas look like?

Paul described it this way, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

It was perfect for a number of reasons. First, it was the perfect time. Paul said, “When the fullness of time had come…” The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah for millennia. But the first century was the perfect time. It was the first time in history that such a big part of the world was united in language (Greek), culture (Greco-Roman), transportation (protected Roman highways through Europe, Asia, and Africa). This led to unprecedented mass propagation of an important message––the Gospel.

That Christmas also had the perfect gift. Paul went on, “God sent forth his son...” The son of God, the Messiah, savior for the world, was given to fulfill the greatest need of all time, restoring humanity to their creator.

This first Christmas also had the perfect objective. “…to redeem them who were under the law (us)...” Without this gift, we are all hopelessly lost. Because of this gift, we can be redeemed and given eternal life.

Finally, that first Christmas was perfect because it affords the perfect response. Paul concluded, “...that we might receive adoption as sons.” If we receive the gift that God offers, salvation through Jesus, we become God’s children. As John wrote in his Gospel, “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  Everyone who has received this gift has become God’s children…forever!

That perfect Christmas can become your perfect Christmas, if you do just that…receive him.

Have you? Have you consciously accepted the gift that God offers you by receiving his forgiveness through Jesus? Have you personally accepted, unwrapped, and claimed as your own, God’s gift of Jesus as your Savior?

Why not today? Make this Christmas your perfect Christmas! He’s offering you that gift right now. All you have to do is receive it.

I loved Bob’s perfect Christmas. But I would love so much more if this Christmas became your perfect Christmas. Receive him today!