Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

From: Pastor John

"The Unwrapped Christmas Present"

I suppose we have pretty well left Christmas behind.  Maybe we have a few decorations to take down, but practically, Christmas is over. It is with that thought in mind that I want you to look around your house for the unopened Christmas present.  It is there.  It gets unopened and unused every year.

Did you find it yet?  It is right there between the selfishness and the hurtful words.  It sits right out in the open in every Christian home.  It begs to be opened during every argument, each secret sin, and all of our misguided ego ventures.  Maybe it is because the wrapping is not so attractive.  No fancy bows or red and green paper adorn this present.  It is not the wrapping that makes this present valuable.  The value of this present is in the power it has to change and free the soul.

It is a present bought by Jesus with blood - His blood pure and precious.   There are no charge bills coming later.  It is a gift that is freely and truly ours.  This present, once opened and used generously will change hearts, lives, and families.  It will turn war zones into homes of peace and love, twisted hearts into springs of living water.

Onec aution - this gift can only be received.  It cannot be given by us to another.  It comes from Jesus alone to each of us for our exclusive use.  We cannot re-gift this gift.  It will destroy this present.

Have you found the present yet?  It is right there in the midst of your faith.  It is repentance - the gift of gifts.  The ability to honestly confess sin and be freed from guilt and shame.  Why not unwrap it and use it with your God and with each other?

Don't forget there's Homework:

+How can you use repentance to change the mood, attitude, and temperature in your home?

+Why are we so reluctant to unwrap and use this gift?

For your prayers today:

+Lift up Nancy Bandemer as she begins another round of chemo, and waits more test results.

+Pray that God the Holy Spirit empower us to use repentance to subdue our pride and shame, and make within us streams of living water in a thirsty world.

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John