All of us like a bargain! January sales which began it seems in  October  in some high streets and shopping Malls. The aim is to relieve us of our spare cash with offers we couldn’t refuse. My twin brother is a sucker for bargains, but I have to be honest and say that I fell into the trap just after Christmas. I called into a Garden Centre which advertised a massive sale of Christmas items and decorations. I succumbed to one of those Victorian Village models- of a church covered in snow with a couple in a sledge- all at less than half price.

 

Pleased with my acquisition, no sooner had I left the shop when I thought to myself,’ what am I going to say to my wife Valerie- she will blow a gasket. So I panicked and took it up into the loft hoping she wouldn’t find it. She did! Of cause there is a an immense sense of pleasure  if we can purchase one of our missed from the Christmas list items at knock down prices- the only thing that would be even better, would be if we could get it for free.  However,  that’s  not likely to happen in the shopping centres I visit.

 

But God does offer us a gift that can’t be bought. At Christmas many people celebrated the gift of Jesus, God’s Son, Emmanuel, which means God with us. Jesus loved those who were unlovable, who in other people’s eyes were worthless, showing human kind the best way to live. Today God offers the gift of his love- he also showed us that life does not end when we die.

 

God is always there for us to talk to. He wants to bring comfort when we are lonely or bereaved, as well as peace when we face difficulties-like the credit crunch. And we don’t have to grapple our way through the  hordes  to take advantage of the incredible offer of love and forgiveness. We can’t buy or earn them, just simply receive them as a gift from a loving Father.

 

By John Jenkinson, Minister of Longcauseway  United Reformed and Methodist and Highfield URC Earlsheaton.  On behalf of the Churches Together in Dewsbury