So, there I was, doing my own thing and having my own way. I was like a small ship in a large ocean with no sail or rudders to guide me. In essence, I was misdirected on the outside and on the inside. Inwardly  I was rebellious, stubborn,  defiant, self-guided, mischievous  and above all sinful. Yes, that was me. Then one day, this person caused me to look in His direction. He said, “Stop what you are doing and consider your ways, consider your life”! This  made me  stop and really think about what I was doing and where I was ultimately going.

This wasn’t the first time He came knocking at my heart, but it was the first time I stopped and listened and I mean really listened. In hindsight, I questioned why it took me so long to look towards Him but I am so glad I did. That  day He  said, “Dane, I have this GIFT for you” and He lovingly presented it to me. I was in total shock, I looked around and said in my mind, “Who Me?” What did I do to receive this wonderful gift? … Absolutely Nothing!

 I couldn’t believe that I was now the recipient of this Gift. The discourteous and disrespectful way I treated Him all these years and He still finds love in His heart to stretch out His arms towards me. Oh, what LOVE…!

I took the gift and said, “Thank you Father, no one has ever given me such a wonderful gift”. It is the best gift I have ever gotten and it is the best gift I would ever have. I thank you so much! I was smiling, singing, dancing, and rejoicing about my gift. I felt like I had the best gift in the world. It was like kids in the neighbourhood coming together to show and compare their Christmas presents. When I compared mine to what others get in life, I was overwhelmed with happiness.  But after I compared it to what I had previously and what others have, I knew for a certainty that what I received surpassed all other gifts. 

This Gift Giver Gave me the Gift of Salvation and Eternal Life.

In many ways this gift is different from worldly gifts. This is not the kind of gift we get and utilize for ourself or lay claim to full ownership of. This gift was given for us to liberally share and shout from the mountain top, for it cannot be put under a bushel (Matthew 5:14-16). This is why, it is called, “The gift that keeps on giving”.

Have I always shared this gift as I should? No! Have I always loved and cherished this priceless gift? No! There were intervals where I was tempted to return it and I even did so. There were periods where while having this gift, I ran off and sort lesser, detestable gifts. But even in my wrong, the Gift Giver still came back to save me and offer me the gift anew. Even when I walked away from Him seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22) He still mercifully and lovingly offered me this one precious gift again, and again. Anyone else would have quickly given up on me, taken back their gift, and never offered  it again, but this Gift Giver is not so, and will never be so.

You see, while this gift is precious and immeasurable, it is not only about the gift.  The quality and value of the gift display the nature of the Gift Giver. In other words, the love of the Gift Giver is revealed in the Gift.

I am proud and honoured to say that the Gift Giver I am speaking about is God. He is called, Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim,  Adonai, Alpha and Omega, Ancient of Days, El Elyon, El-Shaddai and He is our Abba Father – The Greatest Gift Giver. (Source: Christianity.com).

Today, the day we call Christmas day, I wanted to remind us about this precious gift which we have been given. This is a gift which was given by a loving Father and paid for in blood and suffering, the blood and sacrifice of His only son Jesus Christ. Let’s not take this gift for granted. If we have walked away from this gift in 2021 or even before that, then now is a good time to accept it and unwrap it once again.

If you are thinking about giving up and not using this gift anymore,  this is definitely the wrong move. Let me ask you this, “If you give up on this gift, what are you going to replace it with?”. Look around and tell me what else are you going to hold unto?  Does the world have anything of worth to offer or anything that lasts? I leave this question for you to ponder by yourself as each man must work out his salvation on his own (Philippians 2:12)

Don’t ever think that you are too far from God to ever turn back to Him. If you are still alive (especially during Covid) then the love and mercy of the Gift Giver is still extended to you. All you have to do is reach out and receive  what He has to offer.

While others might have to go in search of their gift, others might be fully utilizing theirs. To such persons I say “hats off” to you and I encourage you to continue. Don’t use this Christmas season to simply sit around a table and eat and exchange gifts with the ones you hold true and dear. I encourage you to extend yourself beyond this. Extend yourself beyond those that you typically see and give a monetary gift, give a smile and a warm embrace, give a tangible present or better yet, do the ultimate and Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving…..a relationship with God Himself.

PS: Dane Miller was last seen unwrapping a gift box and asking others to look inside.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller | Authored Book – “God is the Author, I am the Pen”

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