The Greatest Gift Ever Given

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

I don't know about you, but I always find myself fighting an internal struggle at this time of year. All the busyness surrounding the season...did I get a gift for everyone? Will they like my gift? What if I got a gift my kids hate? For those who do Santa, what if the Santa gift is not what they asked for? Where did I put that gift again? Oh, no, I forgot about ______! Not only the gifts, but the Christmas cards, and all the baking that happens as well. This time of year can be extremely stressful! If I'm not careful, Satan uses all these distractions to turn my focus away from the One I need to be focused on.

I often find myself fighting to remember why I even celebrate Christmas. If Christ hadn't been born, there wouldn't even be Christmas. Even though it's believed that Christ was born at a different time, December 25 is the time set aside to remember His birth...the long awaited Messiah, for whom Israel waited for thousands of years...the long awaited gift of God to His people.

Without Christ, there is no hope, there is no peace, there is no forgiveness, there is no joy. There is no greater gift than God sending His own Son, who came to earth as a baby and grew into a man, whose sole purpose was to show God's love and take the punishment for my sins and yours, so those of us who accept His gift can enjoy eternity with Him.

Now, as believers, we find ourselves waiting once again...this time for Jesus to return, not to die, but to return as reigning King...for completion of the promise of a new heavens and new earth where there will be no more sickness, no more dying, no more pain, no more tears, where our every breath will be spent praising and worshipping the One who loved us enough to come to earth as a little baby and grow up to die for our sins, the One who reigns forevermore!

Galatians 4:4-5

When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 

Without Christ, life is meaningless. As you and I are hurrying around these last remaining days, let's remember, Christmas is not about the food and the gifts under the tree, it's about God's greatest gift given to you and me.