As we prepare for Christmas we are bombarded by endless advertisements that promise the perfect gift for our loved ones. For many, this might be the most difficult question of the season. Indeed, “What is the perfect gift?” It is a difficult question isn’t it? The possibilities are endless as we find ourselves clicking on every website to achieve the quest of the perfect gift.

When I was child I told my parents, “if I could have a Nintendo Entertainment System [NES] for Christmas, I will never ask for another present again”. Yet my parents chuckled knowing how this would not last. After playing hours and hours on my NES, I was left wanting more. And this is the plight of man. Everyone is searching for the perfect gift that will leave us not wanting more. Though the world will never deliver this perfect gift, God does.

As the shepherds were out in the field, watching over their flock, the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger”. Luke 2:10-12

Ever since the fall, as sin, death and condemnation entered the world, the headlines presumably would have read, “bad news of great terror has ravaged humanity!” Yet our Lord sees our impossible headline and as the herald of grace, our Father sends His Son Jesus Christ to be the good news of great joy!

For this babe wrapped in swaddling cloth would write the greatest headline not with ink but penned by His own blood. For our Lord Christ the Savior would grow up to face the bad news of our sin and death by His very own death upon the Cross. For there at Calvary, Jesus would be “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” [Rm4:25]. And through His gracious work, Jesus delivers you eternal life, forgiveness and salvation.

This is the perfect gift.

It is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Have a blessed December

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2023/2023-12-Newsletter.pdf