December 23, 2020

The other night we watched the movie “Santa Claus 2”. It’s the fun family movie where Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen, secretly is Santa Claus. Nobody outside of the North Pole except for a couple people know that his real identity is the ‘real’ Santa. (By the way, you will not find this movie mentioned anywhere in the Augsburg Confession). Anyway, there’s a particular part in the movie that Scott Calvin is at a holiday party at his son’s school for faculty only. All the guests are bored stiff and it is a total flop. Until Scott Calvin goes up on stage and grabs a bag of presents that magically happens to be with him.

He makes an announcement that he has a gift for a random guy. He says, “Come get your gift.” The middle-aged recipient, rolling his eyes reluctantly accepts the gift. Anticipating it to be another disappointment at the party, unwraps Toss Across. The tic tac toe game played with bean bags from the early 1970’s. This recipient that couldn’t wait to leave and certainly didn’t want to be the center of attention, yells out in excitement as he receives the best gift he ever had from back in his childhood. The party goes on as a huge success and everyone gets that special gift they yearned for when they were kids.

But is this an appropriate story for a devotional?

Consider some similarities:
Like the boring party, many people go through life and just go through the motions; not living life to the fullest.

We are offered a free gift, but we have to accept it. Even if that guy’s name was called but if he didn’t answer the call and say, “Here I am”; and receive the gift he would still be stuck in his same old situation.

The guy that received the gift couldn’t help getting all excited. His demeaner had a complete 180-degree turnaround. And therefore, his excitement for the gift became contagious. Soon all who attended were saying, “Here I am!” and they were receiving their gift as well.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become children of God, even to them that believe on His name.

We realize this analogy is a sad comparison of ‘the gift’ that the Bible speaks of.

The one whose name is being called: You and me.
The Gift: Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Giver: God the Father allowed Jesus Christ himself through the Holy Spirit.

Have you accepted His Gift? If so, get excited and let people you know!
The word ‘contagious’ has been used over and over this year.
Let’s be contagious for the Gospel!

God Bless and tell someone about ‘The Gift’

Marlon Mathre

Let’s spread the Great News! It is contagious!