Empty Boxes

After Christmas thoughts…

We buy gifts and then wrap them in specialty paper with ribbon and bows. They are given in anticipation of the joy we hope to see in the receiver’s eyes. And in a flurry of excitement the wrappings are tossed aside, and the item is evaluated in mere seconds- and either effervescently accepted and loved or it is gingerly set aside with a slight smile and a hint of gratitude. We hope our guess is correct, that we’ve found a good gift to give, but often we miss the mark. If the receiver is a good actor, we may never know. And at the end of the day all we have left is a room full of expensive wrappings and an empty box.

Good intentions and a beautiful presentation may be enough to catch the receiver’s attention, but contrast that to what God does. He comes to the outcast, the maimed, lowest caste, dirty, rank, drug addicted, ornery, foul-mouthed person and unlike the world he ignores the wrapping. He’s most interested in what is inside no matter how damaged. He eagerly takes the willing heart and slowly transforms it from the inside out so that the gift is always lovingly received, unique and beautiful. And although our exterior wrappings may not change much in other people’s eyes, inside us is the perfect gift, one fit for a King.

What more could a King ask for than to be seen as He truly is. He’s the perfect gift giver… we can be too. I’m thinking about what I will give to my King. What will you?

Thanks for pondering. Blessings, my friend.

Debbie G

Prayer: Lord, so many times I think that You look on my workings and see my shortfalls. I know that I don’t stay connected with You as I should. No matter how I wrap myself, I am an offering without substance unless I have You within me. I pray You would accept me as Your child as I accept You as my Leader and Father. Help me to walk in the pathway You designed for me, and may You be glorified in it. I thank You that Jesus is the perfect gift. Amen.

 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us Romans 5:8

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  Psalm 14:2

But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17

#emptybox #mattersoftheheart #whatwillyouchoose