The Gift – Part 1
December 25, 2025
It’s here! All the anticipation has led up to this day. Merry Christmas!
Gift-giving is a big part of our Christmas traditions. When I was
thirteen or fourteen, I really wanted that electronic hand-held football
game for Christmas; the one that had little red pips on the screen and did
a lot of beeping. I never got that gift, even after several years of asking.
I was so disappointed. About fifteen years ago, I bought one for myself
from a catalog of vintage toys. I was so disappointed!
When my wife was pregnant with our first child, we gave both of our
sets of parents a pair of white, knit baby booties, with some clever little
poem, hinting at what would soon fill those booties. We got exactly the
excited reactions we hoped for.
We all have stories of memorable Christmas gifts, the bad as well as the
good; the vacuum cleaner your husband gave you, or the crocheting
lessons your wife gave you.
I’m reminded of several fictional characters who were given amazing
gifts. The Grinch was given the gift of realizing that “Christmas doesn’t
come from a store, that Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
And whatever that “more” was, caused his heart to grow three sizes (I’ve
always thought it interesting that Dr. Seuss, in that book, never did
explain what the true meaning of Christmas really is).
Ebenezer Scrooge received the opportunity to look at his life from the
outside, and he was given a second chance to make a positive impact on
the people in his life and the world around him.
Finally, George Bailey’s gift – an amazing chance to see how terrible the
world would have been minus the impact of his life well-lived.
Those were all great gifts, but let’s shift gears now to talk about the
greatest gift ever given. Second Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be to
God for His indescribable gift.” Before the beginning of time, God
knew that His creation would rebel, and that rebellion would generate a
tragic separation between God and His creation. But the Plan was
already in place. God would come down among His creation as one of
them, live a perfect life and die the death that every one of us deserved,
the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of
sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our
Lord.” What an indescribable gift!
But let’s take a moment to try to describe it, however inadequately. It
was the most mind-boggling gift in the history of the world. When God
became a man, he was 100% man, but still 100% God. Our minds can’t
process that concept. Aren’t you glad there are so many things
surrounding God that we can’t comprehend? This was also the most
sacrificial gift of all time. Jesus was the required perfect sacrifice for
sin, and He went to an excruciating death on the cross. It was the most
loving gift ever given as well. God looked across the ages, saw you and
said, “He’s worth it. I love him. She’s worth it. I love her. I’m going to
provide a way for them to be with Me forever.” Finally, this gift was the
most influential event in the history of the world. The time of the giving
of this gift is the commonly-used dividing line between B.C. and A.D.
(at least among those who love God). All of human history rotates on
the hub of this gift.
Today, enjoy the giving and the receiving, especially if there are children
involved. But don’t forget the free and indescribable gift God gave you!
Listen to the audio version
About the author:
Brad Snyder, Senior Ministry Director
office@hannaford.org
406-449-2273
Brad received a degree in Biology Education long ago from Liberty University and another in Biology from Montana State University almost as long ago. The first twenty years of his career he worked with young people in various capacities. The second twenty years were spent with the Social Security Administration. Recently retired, Brad looks forward to the challenges of a new ministry. He feels that seniors are a vital part of the church Body and though he has only recently crossed the threshold of “senior-dom,” he trusts that God can use Him to help seniors build a stronger relationship with God and stronger relationships with others. The senior years are accompanied by unique challenges, and Brad hopes to be able to come alongside seniors to pass along God’s hope and encouragement.
Brad and his wife Erin began attending Hannaford in November 2019. They have three grown children and two grandchildren (and a third due Spring 2026).
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