Obedience Is the Best Gift

“A child has been born for us.  We have been given a son who will be our ruler.” 

Isaiah 9:6 (CEV)

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” Matthew 23:25-26

Props: clean, clear drinking glass and dirty drinking glass

            Today we’re talking about giving our best to Jesus.  One of the greatest things about getting gifts is that you can use them.  No one here would want a pile of junk for Christmas, would you?  Of course not.  You want gifts you can use.  Jesus wants gifts that He can use, too.  He wants us to give Him our lives so that He can use them for great things. 

            (Display drinking glasses).  Look at these two drinking glasses.  What is the difference between the two of them.  (Allow for response).  The one is clean and ready to be used.  (Hold up dirty glass).  This glass, though, is not ready to be used.  As it is right now, it’s pretty useless.  No one would want to drink out of it.  What would have to happen before anyone could drink out of this glass?  (Allow for response). 

            Just as the glass has to be cleaned before it can be of any use, we have to come to God and let Him clean us up before He can use us.  God doesn’t use soap or water to clean us.  He washes all of our sins away and forgives us because Jesus took our punishment.  We must make the decision to ask for His forgiveness and to ask Him to wash our sins away and make us clean.  If we do that, He forgives us and we become clean—a gift that Jesus can use.  If not, we’re not going to be of any use to Him.  Bring your best to Jesus, the King.