Here is the children’s message I gave this evening at our Christmas Eve service:
Do you know what a “prized possession” is? It’s the one thing you own that you love more than anything else. Do you have a prized possession? Maybe a favorite toy or doll?
There’s a story called “The Hobbit” and in this story there’s a nasty little creature who has a prized possession. This creature’s name is Gollum, and he lives on an island in the middle of a lake in a cold and dark cavern, deep inside the mountains. You’ve never seen such a mean, ugly, and miserable thing as Gollum. He has no friends or family, and he spends all day long talking to himself, and catching and eating the fish that live in his lake.
But Gollum has a prized possession, a very special ring of gold. There is nothing he loves more than his ring, which he calls “his precious”. And for good reason, for it is the most precious thing to him in all the world.
Now do you suppose this Gollum would ever give his ring away to anybody, for any reason? Of course not! It is his “precious”, and he would rather die than give it up. Now Gollum is a wicked little creature, but we can learn something from him. And that is, the more we love something, the more we hate to give it away or let it go. Think again about your prized possession. Would it be hard for you to give it away to somebody?
Did you know that God also has a prized possession? There is one thing that God loves more than anything else. Do you know what that is? Actually, it is not a “thing” but a person – God’s Son Jesus Christ. In the Bible, when God spoke from heaven about Jesus, he called him “beloved Son”. From all eternity, Christ was God’s only Son and God loved him more than we can ever know. You know how much your parents love you, don’t you? Add up the love of all the daddy’s and mommy’s in the whole world for their children, and still God loved his Son even more than that.
But the Bible says that God gave his Son away, as a gift. Although he loved his Son, he gave him up. Do you know to whom God gave his Son? To us! Jesus is God’s special gift to us. That is why we give presents to each other at Christmas, to celebrate the gift that God gave to us, his Son Jesus Christ.
The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God loved his son more than anything, but God loved us, too. And out of his love for us, He gave up the Son he treasured. And he did this so that you can have eternal life. The baby Jesus grew up and then died on the cross to take away your sins and give you his life. For that reason the gift that God gives you, Jesus, is the greatest gift you will ever receive!
Now, is there something you can give to God? Yes, there is! You must give him your prized possession. That doesn’t mean you give God your favorite toy or doll, but you give him the one thing you really love more than anything else. Do you know what that is? It is your life. And you give God your life by believing in Jesus, trusting him as your Savior and obeying him as your Lord.
I want you to remember that as you celebrate Christmas. God’s love for you and me, even though we are sinners, was so great that he gave us the one thing he loved more above all – his Son Jesus. If you remember that, then you will love Jesus more than anything else. He will be your “prized possession”.
And you will never have to give him away, because he will be yours forever and ever!
alaskapastor 