It was just a few days before Christmas.

"We need to go and buy a turkey," one said to the other.

"I thought I saw a turkey in our freezer," said the other. Sure enough, deep down in the freezer, there was a turkey. And it had a date on it. That turkey had been in the freezer for ten years!

"We can't eat this," one said to the other. "Who knows what it's like? It could make us sick or even kill us!"

"You're right," said the other. "Why don't we give it to the church?"

Why is it that when we don't need or want something any more, we give it to the church — even if it's in poor shape and maybe not worth keeping at all? God doesn't want our leftovers; He wants our best. But too often, we keep the best for ourselves.

Our heavenly Father didn't keep anything from us. He gave us His very best — His only Son, Jesus — to save us — you and me — from our sins! Jesus gave us His all — He gave His life for us. He suffered on the cross and took our sins upon Himself so that we could be forgiven and live forever with Him. Our debt has been paid.

In the story of the lost son, the father tells his servants to bring out the best robe — not just any robe, but the best robe — for his son who was lost but is found.

Luke 15:22 – But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet." (NRSV)

Nothing but the best comes from God, our Father!

Everything we have comes from God.

1 Corinthians 4:7b – What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? (NLT)

He created each one of us and He created the world that we live in.

Malachi 2:10a – Are we not all children of the same Father? Are we not all created by the same God? (NLT)

Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (NLT)

Are you giving God your best? Or is He getting the leftovers — what you don't need or want?

Numbers 18:29 – Be sure to give to the Lord the best portions of the gifts given to you. (NLT)

Prayer: Gracious, loving God, forgive us for keeping the best for ourselves when You held back nothing from us. You loved us so much that You gave us Your only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. We humbly offer all that we have and all that we are to You in gratitude for all that You have done for us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Dee Renaud <dee.renaud@outlook.com>
Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada
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