OUR DAILY BREAD : PRESENTS OR PRESENCE?

[cimi]

December 5
Saturday


PRESENTS OR
PRESENCE?

READ:
1 John 2:24-29
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In Your presence is
fullness of joy; at
Your right hand are
pleasures forevermore.
__Psalm 16:11
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Oswald Chambers once wrote: "It is not God's promises we need, it is [God ] Himself."

At Christmastime we often say, "God's presence is more important than presents." But the amount of time and effort we spend on shopping for gifts may indicate otherwise.

In certain parts of the world, people give gifts on December 6. By doing so, they have the rest of the month to focus on Jesus and the wonder of His birth, God's perfect gift to us.

When we say we want God's presence more than presents from others, perhaps we're being truthful. But how many of us can honestly say that we want God's presence more than His presents?

Often we want gifts from God more than we want God Himself. We want health, wealth, knowledge, a better job, a better place to live. God may indeed want to give us these things, but we can't have them apart from Him. As David said, "In Your presence is fullness of joy" (Ps. 16:11). Presents may make us happy for a time; earthly gifts from God may make us happy temporarily, but fullness of joy comes only when we remain in a right relationship with God.

So, what would Christmas be like if we truly celebrated God's presence? __Julie Ackerman Link
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`````````Lord, we want to remember you and Your coming in`````````
`````````special ways this Christmas. Give us creativity and``````````
````````thoughtfulness in our planning. Help us to focus on Your``````
`````````presence and not on what we hope to give or receive.```````
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God's presence with us
is one of His greatest presents to us.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 John 2:24-29***********

24 Therefore let that abide
in you which you heard
from the beginning. If what
you heard from the
beginning abides in you,
you also will abide in the
Son and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise
that He has promised us--
eternal life.

26 These things I have
written to you concerning
those who try to deceive
you. 27 But the anointing
which you have received
from Him abides in you,
and you do not need that
anyone teach you; but
as the same anointing teaches
you concerning all things,
and is true, and is not a lie,
and just as it has taught
you, you will abide in Him.

28 And now, little children,
abide in Him, that when He
appears, we may have
confidence and not be
ashamed before Him at His
coming. 29 If you know that
He is righteous, you know
that everyone who practices
righteousness is born of
Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In verse 28 of today's reading, John refers to the recipients of this
letter as "little chiLdren." This was a favorite expression of John's,
and he used it often in this letter (2:1, 12, 13, 18, 28; 3:7, 18, 4:4;
5:21). One commentary says that this phrase "expresses the tender
affection of an aged pastor and spiritual father." His concern is
repeatedly expressed in a parental way to show the genuineness of
his love for the readers. __ BILL CROWDER