12/28/2025
Here is today's message.
The Right Gift for Everyone
December 28, 2025
Rick Marson
Union Chapel and Bailey’s Chapel UMCs
You know, it’s hard buying Christmas gifts for everybody; so many people . . . so many choices—“Do we need to get something else for the baby?” Or “What about Grandpa; did we get something for Grandpa?” Or “Where did we put the gift for Uncle George?” Or “I hope our nephew Henry likes what we got him; . . . but it’s all I had the time to get!” Sound familiar?
That’s not you; right? . . . I am sure you were all set with all of your Christmas gifts secured weeks in advance . . . no last-minute-hassle-shopping for you . . . right? I hope so. Because shopping on Christmas Eve . . . is no holiday. The crowds can be overwhelming.
One time, when our kids were in high school, we realized at 8 pm on Christmas Eve … that we had neglected to get a present for my niece Angela. So, Ricky, Melanie, and I braved the 30-person lines at each register in Walmart. The lines snaked their way back through the store. But what choice did we have?
I told the kids that I would wait in line while they found a gift for Angela. When they got back with her gift … we waited . . . and waited . . . in this never-ending-crawling-like-a -turtle line … patiently trying to pass the time. “Merry Christmas?” “Humbug!”
You know, when you are in line for a very long time . . . you wind up observing the people standing around you . . . Particularly, what they are buying. You just can’t help it! There's nowhere else to look!! There was a guy, in the line next to us, who was carrying only two things: . . . a carton of ci******es and a plunger!
I whispered to Melanie and Ricky, “Now there’s a guy with two0 serious problems!” And they started chuckling . . . and then giggling . . . and then guffawing! Uncontrollably! And, pretty soon . . . everybody in the line was laughing . . . and looking at this beleaguered soul. He just smiled and said, “Yeah . . . I know!” Such is the state of Christmas-Eve-shopping! My daughter said, “Never again!”
Last year, my son gave me what he thought would be the perfect gift for me. It was a hooded sweatshirt that had a large slice of pizza printed on the front of it, that had a zippered compartment under the pizza print . . . containing an insulated foil pouch that would hold a piece of pizza in it, keeping it warm for later consumption. Ahhhhhh!! … Perfect!
Wouldn’t it be nice . . . if there was just one gift . . . that you could buy . . . a gift that was right for everyone . . . one gift that was “perfect” for each person . . . no matter who they were?
One gift that everybody needed. One gift that would fit all sizes . . . would never need upgrades . . . never went out of style . . . never had to be returned . . . one gift that you could never outgrow . . . and never ever wear out? How about cash? Yeah, that’s pretty good. But not everyone has a lot of cash! And cash is certainly not very personal.
What do you think God would give us? … How about this? Once . . . on the very first Christmas, a long time ago . . . he gave us Jesus . . . the gift for “the ages!” . . . and a gift for “people of all ages.”
1. First—It was a gift for the infants among us. When Jesus came to humanity . . . he came to us first . . . as a newborn, of all things; … demonstrating the importance of life at all of its stages – even infancy. He certainly could have come fully formed as an adult if God wanted. But . . . he came as a baby. And Scripture says very specifically about that baby.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus came to us the way that all humans come into this world. And that baby changed everything! From that moment on, there was a new joy in the world, a new hope, a new love, and a new kind of peace! (four things that are remembered via the candles of Advent). In addition, he gave to everyone who wanted … an experience of being reborn; ... saying that we could be born again. (John 3:3).
2. He was also a gift for the children among us. Jesus brought tenderness and patience, and room at the table . . . for all children. At a time when all-knowing adults typically dismissed children from their important gatherings, Jesus said,
Matthew 19:14 Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
And he encouraged us adults to match the faith of children, saying,
Matthew 18:3 "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
His kingdom was for children . . . adults, yes . . . but first and foremost … for those with child-like faith!
3. For the teenager, Jesus brings acceptance and a sense of self-worth, and the confidence that although you are not yet fully formed . . . you are wonderfully made . . . and God loves you . . . just the way that you are!
Jesus knows the end from the beginning: how you are now, and how you are going to be, and he loves you both ways, no more, no less now, . . . than in eternity.
4. For the young adult—those eagerly pushing their way into adulthood, … Jesus provides a path to follow. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the light!” He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father!”
Matt. 4:19 And he said to them, [And, by the way, his followers were all young adults. He said,] ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
4. For those building families—those with so many responsibilities, … he gave three things (parents need extra help, you know!)
- First, he gives us rest (you know that you need it!) He says,
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- In addition to rest, he also gives parents the strength they need to get the job done, the Apostle Paul reminding us that,
Phil. 4:13 [We] can do all things . . . through Christ . . . who
strengthens us.
- Then, as parents (especially parents of teenagers) we need wisdom. That is why Paul tells us that
1 Cor. 2:16 we have the mind of Christ.
Now, as a parent, I have all-to-frequently needed . . . the mind of Christ; … most likely because I had lost my own mind!
5. And how about the grandparent? For them, Jesus gives meaning and purpose. We begin to realize that all things do, in fact, eventually work together for the good. He confirms the wizened understanding of the senior adult.
Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
Job 12:12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. … 3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
6. For the widow and the widower. For the brokenhearted, Jesus gives companionship – a friend closer than a brother. He said,
Mat 28:20 remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age;
saying also again in
Hebrews 13:5 ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’
Yes, Jesus is the perfect gift that is just right for everyone. He said,
John 10:10 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
And who doesn’t need life . . . more abundantly?
How about the heartbroken? I remember one Christmas Eve, I passed by the house in my daughter’s neighborhood, . . . where a 12-year-old boy had tragically died by su***de just a few months earlier.
There were no Christmas decorations in the typically heavily-ornamented yard . . . that year; . . . no tree to be seen peeking through the window; . . . no lights along the roofline . . . And understandably so!
There was, however, a single lit star . . . hanging by the mailbox . . . carrying with it the clear message . . . that even surrounded by the darkness . . . there is still . . . some light . . . and hope . . . always hope!
I wonder if anyone noticed the significance of that solitary star in their yard. Hope never dies! In the end, there are only faith, hope, and love remaining (1 Cor. 13).
That is what God gave us at Christmas, that very first year—real hope!
Hope for what? Does it really matter? Just . . . hope!! That is what all of us need . . . the perfect gift for everyone. That’s what all of us are given in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
Hope that God has not forgotten us; hope that God is still with us, hope for the relevance of our past, and for the vagaries of our present, and for the uncertainties of our future. For the scripture tells us that
Isaiah 40:31 those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Sounds like a plan to me!
How about you?
