The Greatest Gift Ever Given
The Greatest Gift Ever Given
Christmas day is quickly approaching.The hustle and bustle has begun.The decorations are up and the shopping lists are being made.Packages are wrapped and placed under the tree.Hmmm…that sounds nice, doesn’t it?Sounds as if we are prepared and on top of all that we need to do.That is not my reality.Is it yours?Things are a little crazy for me.I have not even started shopping and to be honest I have no idea what to give anyone.I have friends who are dreading Christmas because they have experienced loss and cannot imagine Christmas without their loved one.I have friends who do not have family to celebrate with and are dreading the realization that Christmas brings. Many who will gather with their family experience disappointment and hurt feelings because of difficult relationships.But…wait…are we confused?Is Christmas about me and all I need to do?Is Christmas about who we are with?Is Christmas about us being surrounded by loved ones and feeling happy?No.Christmas is about celebrating the greatest gift ever given.
Let’s all stop the craziness.Let’s focus on what Christmas is truly all about. Let’s unwrap the greatest gift ever given and rejoice that we have received it.Let’s talk about it.Long ago, the prophet – Isaiah, who was a messenger to his people, shared his prophesy of the Christ child in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”He would be the greatest gift ever given.
In Luke 2:8-14 we read, “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.And this will be the sign to you:You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”Our Savior was born.The angel said he was bringing tidings of great joy!We have received the greatest gift ever given.We should be full of GREAT JOY!This is a time of celebration!A time to rejoice!!!
Why were we given this incredible gift?John 3:16 tells us why.“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”He is our hope for salvation!Jesus himself tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.No one comes to the Father except through Me.”Jesus is the greatest gift ever given.He is what we need.He is what matters…what truly matters.Do you know Him?Have you accepted Him?You see to “believe” is not just an acknowledgement that God exists.After all, even Satan believes in God.But “to believe in God” means to believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.To believe means to accept Jesus as our Savior.It means we are making the decision to live our life for Him. It means we are opening this gift and making it ours!
So…as Christmas Day approaches, I pray that it will be a time of CELEBRATION!I pray that you will be filled with JOY – JOY UNSPEAKABLE!I pray that despite your situation – you will REJOICE in the One who gave His life for you.You see without His birth – there would not have been a cross.He loves us so!Let’s show Him how much we love Him as we focus on, dwell on, rest in, acknowledge, praise and worship who He is!He is our Savior!He is our King!He is our Hope!He is EVERYTHING!He is our friend!He is “God with us”!He is the greatest gift ever given!!!!