The Good Gift – Christmas Eve, 2016
George MacDonald has always been one of my favorite writers. He was a Scottish author, poet, and pastor. He was a pioneering figure in the field of fantasy literature, historical fiction and children’s novels. I used to read his children’s novels gladly to my children, Heather and Brandon – because I love them as much as children do. Here’s a picture of George MacDonald. I wonder whether all pastors eventually end up looking like he did. If so, I see my future in him: 
It’s Christmas Eve here in Pasadena. A few of you have already opened up gifts. But, I imagine most of you will open gifts tomorrow. With that in mind, I thought I would show you that, in one of MacDonald’s many sermons, he passed down what I consider to be some good wisdom about gift giving. Let me share it with you:
“The real good of every good gift it is essential, first, that the giver be in the gift -- as God always is, for he is love -- and next, that the receiver recognize and receive gratefully the giver in the gift.”
Notice those two criteria of a good gift according to MacDonald:
1. The amount of the giver in the gift.
2. The one to whom the gift is given gratefully acknowledges the amount of the giver in the gift and receives it with joy.
I’m going to apply those criteria to two different gifts. The first one is one of my own. Years ago, Chris and I were given a couple of nights at the Rancho Bernardo Inn – including breakfast. One of the breakfast options was waffles, ice cream, strawberries and chocolate:
Brandon and I discovered that option and gladly ate it every morning. Chris opted for the yoghurt with fresh fruit option. When Christmas came that year, Chris opened up a gift to her from Brandon and me. Here’s a picture of it: 
Yes, it was waffle iron. And, Chris did not eat waffles. But, graciously, she made us some Christmas waffles that year.
Now, let me ask you: How much of the giver was in that gift? None. There was nothing in it for her – it was all for us! In fact, as she let us know, it would only mean more work for her.
Let’s contrast that gift with the gift of God we celebrate this evening. We see it in the Bible’s two John 3:16s:
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ gave his life for us. So, we ought to give our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16).
We see how much of God was in that gift of his Son when we recognize that he saw us “perishing”. Apart from God’s grace, that is our condition. Our souls are in danger because of our sin. We have all fallen short of what God made us to be. But, hear now the good news, although we are sinners, God loves us and, because of that love, he gave Jesus to come and make our rescue, our salvation possible. What a gift! It was the very gift we need – forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God.
And, from 1 John 3:16, how much of the Giver was in the gift when Jesus knowingly gave his life for us? As Jesus said, “No one takes my life from me. No, I give my life of my own accord (Jn 10:18).” Everything was in that gift, wasn’t it? Jesus lived the life that you and I should be living but we haven’t – we’ve fallen short. But, Jesus was willing to die the death you and I deserve to die because of our sin but now we don’t have to because -- Jesus died in our place. He offers you and me the gift of forgiveness of sin and of a new life through faith in him. What a gift!
What should you take home from this on the Christmas Eve 2016? There are two lessons. First, on a smaller level, I think you and I can learn to be better gift-givers. A good gift is one that represents something of the relationship you have to the other person. You learn to know that that person likes, enjoys or needs and you give as a part of that relationship. In each good gift, there is a lot of the giver in the gift. A good gift is not just an afterthought. It is a gift that flows from a relationship ---a gift of love. So, I hope you and I will learn to be better gift-givers.
But, there is a much bigger lesson that I want you to take home. The second criterion for a good gift is that the one to whom the gift is offered gratefully acknowledges the amount of the giver in the gift and receives the gift with joy.
Have you received God’s gift of salvation? That’s the most important question this Christmas 2016. Hear again the words of John 1:11-12 -- Jesus came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who do receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God. Remember: Whoever believes in Jesus – yes whoever – shall not perish but have eternal life. That’s the gift God offers you. But you must receive it and, as these verses tell us, you receive it by believing in Jesus.
For centuries, people from all over the world have received Jesus as Savior. Over fifty years ago, I did – and my life has never been the same. Jesus has brought light into my life – and into the lives of all who receive him. As people throughout the world and throughout history have come to know God through faith in Jesus, they have told others about Jesus and those others too have received Jesus, the light of the world. Now, the news of this great gift of God has reached all the way to 393 N Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA at a Christmas Eve service in 2016. It all started with Jesus coming into the world – light breaking into darkness. Now, symbolically, I go to the Christ candle in the Advent Candle. The light came into the world and now goes from witness to witness, from person to person. As it comes to you, receive it – and then pass it on… (This leads into the candle lighting ceremony service.)