Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Psalm 130:7

I’m presently sitting in my family room looking at a Christmas tree, listening to some classic Christmas songs and fondly remembering the Christmas of my childhood. One of the opportunities of looking back is the possibility of recognizing the faithfulness and love manifested over and over by the Lord of all life. Gifts are the stock and trade of God. He excels at giving, and giving generously without measure. I have been a recipient of God’s generous gifts, gifts of faith, family, friends, food and shelter, at the very least. As only God can do, He has further blessed me with the capacity to appreciate beauty, design, form and function, experienced in the art and music of His creation. The remarkable thing in all of God’s generosity is that I’ve done nothing to deserve or merit the smallest portion of what He offers. It is called grace, and it is the way God has chosen to manifest His generous giving.

But all these gifts pale in comparison with the gift of His own presence manifested in the incarnation of His Son Jesus Christ. It is a gift that cannot be exceeded or matched. It is this gift for which the people of God, Israel, waited expectantly. The writer of Psalm 130 understands this focused waiting and hope. It is centered in an understanding of qualities essential to God that make all the waiting worthwhile. Throughout history God has provided tastes, glimpses and subtle hints of these qualities in all the variety of gifts He has given. But these gifts were always meant to function as appetizers preparing us for the main meal. They were not intended to fill us, but only whet our appetite for the truly remarkable main course God had prepared and intended for humanity.

The psalmist says that with the Lord is “unfailing love” and ‘full redemption”. For this reason he encourages us to hope in the Lord. In the Lord we discover something richer, more satisfying and life giving. We are offered in Christ these gifts of unfailing love and full redemption. They speak of a love that is always available and a redemption that attaches infinite value to humanity, as only the infinite God can.

In the world I see around me the concepts of love and value can become so transitory and temporal. Love and value can be contingent upon so many things, especially the performance of the one waiting to receive them. I am always amazed with the phrase “unfailing love” for it speaks of a love that transcends my own failures and fickleness, along with all my other defects of character. This love perseveres and continues, no matter what the condition of its object. This love informs the way Jesus values humanity and is fully realized at his death on the cross. Jesus loves and values humanity beyond my human comprehension.

I remember many of the Christmas gifts I have received over the years. They initially held great value for me and were treated with great care as a result. But with time, as the wear and tear of life took its toll, my love for these things diminished a bit. In fact, in a world of planned obsolescence, the newest, brightest and best things are typically eclipsed by something newer, brighter and better within a short time. Manufacturers plan for products to have a terminal lifespan which means they will eventually fail. It is a condition of our temporal world that nothing lasts forever.

But into this world Jesus came manifesting in His person the unfailing love of God. This gift of love, found in Him, never fails. Every day I awaken to the love of Jesus for me no matter what I am like (and if you saw what my hair looks like in the morning you’d see how amazing this is). The reality is that nothing I am or do surprises Jesus and nothing keeps Him from giving me His whole life in love. Christmas holds the promise of unfailing love for those who come to the stable and receive the gift of Jesus and the love and redemption He so generously offers.

As you reflect upon the meaning of Christmas, the joy of the season, the family and friends gathered in community, and the gifts exchanged, may you consider the gift that is central to all others. May you consider Jesus, who seeks to express to each of us His own unfailing love and full redemption. And then may you take every opportunity to share the love and infinite value He has for humanity with all whom you encounter.

As this last year ends and the new year approaches I’d like to take the opportunity to express my gratefulness for your prayers and support of Press Pause Ministries. Your kindness and generosity have been a wonderful reminder of the unfailing love and full redemption of the Lord to us. Our desire is to continue to provide opportunities for people to pause and experience the Lord in their lives. Your prayers and financial gifts encourage that mission. As this year ends might I encourage you to consider helping this ministry through a one time or ongoing financial gift. God continues to be our source of provision through a variety of means. Would you prayerfully consider being a part of that provision. Should you choose to donate, you can either donate online at www.presspauseministries.com or by sending a check to Press Pause Ministries, P.O. Box 413, Salida, CA 95368. All donations to Press Pause Ministries are tax deductible.

Thanks again for reading the blogs, attending the events, praying for us and sharing your financial resources with us. You are gifts to us from the Lord for whom we are continually grateful.Here’s a song to encourage your focus on the one essential gift this season.

Blessings and Merry Christmas!
Jon Byron
President, Press Pause Ministries, Inc