Christmas Gifts
Scripture Reading — Jude 17-25
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
—2 Corinthians 5:17
The Christmas gifts have been opened, and some may already be broken or returned for refunds. Some gifts were a hit, others a miss.
What is the greatest Christmas gift you ever received?
Look at the life-altering richness of God’s gifts given to us through the Christ of Christmas. The closing words of Jude pulsate with hope and confidence. Jude speaks of faith, being kept from falling, standing faultless before God, prayer in the Spirit, God’s love, the mercy of Jesus, eternal life, and great joy. This is the life-changing, history-changing gift of God through faith in Jesus. God came to us in our helpless, hopeless brokenness and changed us and our future.
Take time to reflect on each of these powerful truths as they apply to your life. Let their healing power penetrate your hurts and fears. These make up our reality in Jesus. We have a new identity. In Christ we are new creations; the old is gone. Our future is secure because of Christ’s completed work for our salvation.
Let’s rejoice and worship our gracious God for his perfect gifts. “To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
We worship and praise you, Lord, for your life-changing gifts through Jesus. With hearts of gratitude, may we live out our new reality for the glory of your name. Amen.
About the author — Calvin Aardsma
Calvin Aardsma has been a pastor for more than thirty years. He has served churches in Indiana, Oregon, and the Chicago area. Currently, he is a pastor of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. He also serves on the board of the Ugandan Orphanage Relief Fund. Cal and his wife, Sandy, have four children and five grandchildren.
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