THE UNOPENED GIFT

What if you gave me a gift and I never opened it? Would you be disappointed? The real disappointment would be; it would become a worthless gift because I don’t receive any benefit from a gift I never open.

Jesus Christ is God’s Christmas gift to you. Yet some of us have gone Christmas after Christmas and never opened the best gift of all – God’s gift of salvation. Why even celebrate Christmas if you’re not going to open the biggest gift? It doesn’t make sense to leave unwrapped the gift of your past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in heaven.

Jesus Christ says to you, “I can replace the frustration in your heart with peace. I can replace the guilt, resentment, shame, and grudges with forgiveness. I can replace the worry and anxiety with confidence and faith. I can replace depression or despair with hope. I can replace emptiness with meaning and purpose. I can replace confusion with clarity. But I’m not going to break down the door of your heart. You’ve got to invite me in.”

It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from, if you want Jesus in your life and you are ready to do as he says, the door is open.

It doesn’t matter what your religious background is; God didn’t send Jesus to give you religion. He sent him so you could have a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Below is a prayer I prayed years ago when I opened the gift of Jesus. It’s a pretty simple prayer. If these words express the desire in your heart, read them as if you are talking to God.

Prayer:
Dear God, I’m scared, but I want to get to know you. I don’t understand it all, but I thank you that you love me. I thank you that you’re with me even when I didn’t recognize it. I thank you that you are for me; that you didn’t send Jesus to condemn me but to save me.

I admit I never even realized I needed a Savior, but today I want to receive the Christmas gift of your Son. I ask you to save me from my past, my regrets, my mistakes, my sins, my habits, my hurts, and my hang-ups. Save me from myself.

I ask you to save me for your purpose. I want to know why you put me on this planet. And I want to fulfill what you made me to do. I want to learn to love you and trust you and have a relationship with you.

I need peace with you, God, and I need you to put your peace in my heart. I need you to take away the stress and fill me with your love. Help me be a peacemaker, to help others find peace with you and each other. In your name I pray, amen.

Love and blessings this Christmas
Roger

Adapted from "Open Your gift from God" by Rick Warren at www.pastors.com/blogs/ministrytoolbox