Stephen spoke this morning at the Cherry Tree Carol Service on three gifts which God has given to us connected with this season of Advent. A recent TV programme has looked at different gifts given at Christmas to different ages and at different times and commented that so often, children spend more time playing with empty cardboard boxes than they do with the gifts they receive! The gifts God gives are not empty, however, but full of life!
1. Advent is the season when we traditionally remember the arrival of Christ our Saviour (see Luke 2:11). The Son of God came to earth, born as a baby, and in Him we find a remedy to sin, the key to eternal life. We thank God for this historical gift which paved the way for our salvation.
2. God has also given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, revealing to us His will and purpose for our lives (see Eph 1:9-10). Acts 1:8 reminds us that this gift enables us to be witnesses, for we can live in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than in our own strength.The Holy Spirit is our guide and leader, helping us through the difficult paths of life; this is our gift for the present.
3. The final gift has yet to be fully realised, for we wait for Christ’s return to earth as King and Jjudge (see Luke 17:24-25), when He will return for His people. This is our ‘happy ever after’, the final conclusion to God’s story. Hope fuels us in the meantime, as we wait for this return, ever ready and ever anticipating the arrival of our King with excitement and joy.