Costly Gifts for Those We Love

Friday   12-04-15  Home in Modesto

Scripture reading:    Eph 1 - 4

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Eph 1:3-7  Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son.  He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.  NLT

O.  Since before the tragic fall of man into sin, it was God’s plan to form a family of those that would be saved.  They would become His delight and joy.  And He would pour out His kindness and forgiveness upon them even at the cost of the blood of His only begotten Son. 

A.  My parents, like many others during the great economic depression of the early 1930s, would have been considered to be on the poverty level.  My father worked long hours and often two 8 hour jobs back to back to supply the needs of his family who was dear to him.  Mother knew how to squeeze more out of a dollar than anyone I ever knew.  She would seek for good used clothing purchased with pennies and make it last to be passed down the line of us kids.  “Day-old bread” was the only kind we knew... but it was great for toast. 

Still at Christmas time the living room had many exciting gifts under the tree.  One year I got an electric train.  It was wonderful.  I could control its every move and make its whistle blow when I pushed a button on the controls.  From the controls I could make it go so fast that it would tip over and crash at the curves and I delighted in doing that over and over.  It made no difference to me that it had been purchased “second hand.”  All of our toys were used, and some were repainted down in the basement during early morning hours when daddy should have been sleeping.  He and Mom loved us enough to sacrifice their comfort for us.

P.  Thank you, Father God, for the gift of Christian parents that loved us enough to give us wonderful gifts and best of all the gift of knowing You.  You gave us the only gift that could cost You.  You sacrificed “Your only begotten Son.”  The word “begotten” is chosen in contrast to “created”.   It tells me that Your Son was not a created being.  He was Your greatest treasure.  By giving Him away, You were giving Yourself.  Your Christmas gift to us was truly costly!  Amen.

Ralph