“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”– John 1:11-12)
Last Sunday I preached about “God’s Glorious Gift” and I ended the message by telling the story I read about. It took place many years ago when a package was sent from England to a South African town. The man to whom it was sent refused to pay the delivery fee and for the next 14 years it sat in the Post Office where it was used as a footstool. Finally the man died and the box was put up at auction with other unclaimed items. Out of curiosity a man bid on it and got it for a low price. When he opened it he was greatly surprised to find several thousand pounds in English bank notes. Because the man to whom it was sent refused to pay the delivery charge he missed a fortune!
We hear a lot about giving, but some folks need a lesson on receiving. Think back over your life and imagine all of the gifts you’ve ever received unopened in a huge pile. Think of all you would have been deprived of had you never opened those gifts. You could stand there starring at them, singing about them, or even take a picture of them, but none of them would be of any benefit to you- regardless of the value within. That would have been foolish. But there is something even more foolish than that.
The most foolish thing anyone could do is to refuse God’s glorious gift– His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no delivery fee for that gift. Jesus paid it all. All that is required of you is to accept the gift by faith. It is the gift of eternal life, Christ– God’s Son and man’s Savior. Jesus is God’s gift to you, yet some have gone year after year without receiving Him. That deprives you and disappoints God and determines your destiny. Why do you even celebrate Christmas if you refuse to receive God’s gift? The truth is, you can’t truly celebrate Christmas until you have received Christ. Christmas is about God coming to you, now you need to come to Him. Receive God’s glorious gift and be saved. I pray that you will do it today! — HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
