From His Heart Daily Devotional 25 December 2021
A HOMERUN CHRISTMAS GIFT
I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4
The Christmas season is here! It is time to pull out the shopping list and find the perfect gifts for those special people in your life.
I remember one of the best Christmas days we ever had as a family. My wife, Debbie, loves gifts. It is one of her love languages. I don’t speak that language too well, so communication on that end has not been stellar over the years. But this one Christmas several years ago, I jacked it out of the park.
When Debbie’s mom died, Debbie was given all her jewellery. Debbie’s mom had redone her wedding ring some years earlier, taken the diamonds out of her original set and placed in another ring. Debbie never liked the new arrangement. She had mentioned a time or two about her desire to restore the original wedding set. So, as a surprise to Debbie, I had the original wedding ring redone. It looked GORGEOUS and had so much sentimental value to her. When she opened the box and saw that ring, she began crying big tears of joy. (Then I started crying, and the girls started crying, but they were good tears.) It was the perfect gift for Debbie. I was so thrilled that I blessed her heart with something so special.
THE PERFECT GIFT FOR JESUS
Wouldn’t it be awesome to give Jesus a gift this Christmas that would bring great joy to His heart? Did you know that special gift is out there? It is within reach of every single one of us.
John said, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4). The thing that rejoices the great heart of God is not diamonds or gold (remember that He paves the streets of heaven with gold), but simple obedience to Him. Jesus said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:21). Walking in the truth shows God you really love Him, and that brings Him great joy!
I believe the key to walking in the truth is to walk honestly and humbly before the Lord. God is not looking for sinless perfection from you or me. That is a good thing, since you and I cannot live a life of sinless perfection. What God is looking for is openness and honesty before Him. When we mess up, He wants us to fess up. God hates it when we cover up. He cannot work in a heart that is full of cover up. Proverbs 28:13 tells us, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”
This Christmas season make it your goal to give to God what He really wants – to see you walking in the truth. Take Him at His Word and start doing what He says. It is a home run gift for God this Christmas and every day following.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
