A Precious, Powerful, Perfect And Permanent Present

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6a (KJV)

Over the last week, I have been in pursuit of the perfect present for my Christmas Pollyanna. The game Pollyanna is connected or tied to our western Christmas tradition “Secret Santa”. Basically, groups or a community of people are randomly assigned a person to whom they will give a gift on Christmas. The identify of the gift-giver is a secret not to be disclosed.

In the past, my family selected our Pollyanna recipients by writing names on strips of paper, adding them to a baseball cap, shaking them up and then selecting. This year, we upgraded by using an app for our selection process which required us to go online and connect with a gift exchange service. Personally, my preference is pulling names from a cap rather than placing names in a computer.

In today’s world too many of us are told to be tied to what is trendy rather than to travel in time-honored traditions. However, I am open to move with the times on the condition of not be caught in a technological world trap. Now as I ponder about the perfect present for my Pollyanna, the Presence and Person of the Holy Spirit gently guides and points me back to the absolute precious, powerful, perfect, and permanent present that God gave to the world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV, emphasis added)

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4 (KJV, emphasis added)

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Ephesians 5:25 (KJV)

I invite you now to consciously commit to some considerable contemplation towards an infinite infant who will save us from our sins. The Baby Jesus was deeply loved and precious to Father God. He was personified and became the most valuable person (MVP) ever to exist! Only the baby Jesus, possessed the power to purge and deliver us from our sins and place us in the position to be called children of God. He was also perfect; that is absolutely sinless. And the greatness and glory of God’s gift is permanent and will never end because it keeps on giving! Consider all that God offered us through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ:

Grace
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalms 84:11 (KJV)

Intimacy
“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:22-23 (KJV)

Victory
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 (KJV)

Innocence
“Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalms 32:2 (KJV)

Need
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

Goodness
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23:6 (KJV)

Just as Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered and mediated on her Messiah, the baby Jesus, let us also purpose to mark our minds and heart with meditation about our Messiah. This will move us to personal ministry in our own minds and hearts as well as ministry toward others.

Have a marvelous and Merry Christmas and a happy and Holy Spirit-filled New Year!

For the Glory of God,

PBKSR