Gifts are a big part of Christmas and the day is rapidly approaching for families to gather together and exchange them. We’ve made lists of all the favorite things our loved ones delight in, purchased our selections accordingly, wrapped them lovingly, and secured them with hopeful expectation under our trees. All that remains is the anticipation of how our gifts will be received. Do we really know our loved ones? Do we know them well enough to predict what they would like or not like? Will our selections bring them delight or disappointment? Will they illicit joy and excitement or will they be tossed aside to make room for the next one? It’s no wonder Christmas is so stressful!

What gift are you giving God this Christmas? Do you know Him well enough to find the right gift? Do you know what kind of gift He would truly delight in? Thankfully, the Bible tells us. In Jeremiah 9:23 the Lord says “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.” Okay then, God does not delight in your wisdom, your might, or your riches. You’ll have to look elsewhere for your gift for Him. The next verse says “But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight!” Ah, there it is! God’s favorite things are steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.

Before you rush off to do your shopping, scrounging around those bargain bins for discount love, half-price justice, or last year’s righteousness, please know this: you can only present God with one gift, and underneath God’s tree is a gift which has already been sealed and delivered. It’s from Christ Himself and it contains all of His matchless love, His divine justice, and His perfect righteousness. And He signed it from the both of you. Every other gift God opens will be tossed aside to make room for the next one. But when He opens the gift Christ picked out for Him, He will be filled with pure delight! Because no one really knows the Father and what He likes, except the Son. So rejoice! Your shopping around for a gift that would please God is no longer necessary. Your gift is already there, presented by Christ, beautifully wrapped and waiting under His tree with your name on it. You can be genuinely and confidently excited and filled with joy to see Him open it because He is going to LOVE it!