The Real Gift That Keeps on Giving
Many commercials over the years have employed the well-known phrase “the gift that keeps on giving,” using it to sell gifts for Mother’s and Father’s Days and for subscriptions to Sports Illustrated and assorted gift-of-the-month clubs. The first trademarked use for its commercial purposes goes to… drumroll… the first “talking machines”—phonographs—in 1925.I find this humorous, and I wonder if the commercially oriented use of the phrase began with a Believer. I picture an adult remembering his Sunday School teacher’s emphasis on the gift of eternal life through the cross of Jesus and applying that principle to his advertising work.
The Christmas Season
I have a sentimental and spiritual attachment to the Christmas season. My childhood memories include positive and warm experiences with reliable people. When Myles came into my life, those experiences were exponentially improved by the addition of Hanukkah celebrations with the love of my life.However, as much as Myles adds to my life, it is the presence of Yeshua and His Word that make Christmas a consistently deep and meaningful season. His birth, sinless life, sacrifice, and resurrection changed me forever. Whereas my childhood memories include the thrill of abundant presents and attention to material details, the “Reason for the season” grows each year. In Matthew’s gospel, Yeshua said:Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —Matthew 6:19 This passage reminds me to point others to the importance of Messiah’s advent and the signs of His soon return! Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate His birth (even though it may have been in spring or autumn) while people are feeling openhearted, to tell them about God’s eternal plan of salvation.I hope you will remember to speak openly, telling others of your journey and adventure through a life of faith in Messiah. Let’s all be bold and let the truth of His cross show through us. We should fervently work to see friends and family receive eternal life in “olam ha’ba” (the world to come) as well as abundant life here in “olam ha’zeh” (this present world).The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9Yeshua HaMashiach, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the Lion of Judah soon returning to rule and reign, is the real Gift that keeps on giving.