Christmas is a time of giving isn’t it? It’s good that people should think of others. It shows love for one another. Just think of that very special gift you gave to someone that you really loved. Do you remember? The wrapping paper, the trimming around it, the gift tag, the actual gift and the purpose of the gift, to show your love for them. Do you remember their response to you? Was it good, grateful, hugs and kisses, excitement and telling all their friends. I only wish that people would respond that way to God’s Christmas gift. Let’s consider God’s Christmas gift for a moment.
1. The trimmings around God’s Christmas Gift.
One of the things which enhances the gift is the special bow the shiny trimmings around the gift. It sort of heralds the specialness of the gift. God’s trimmings of His gift are found in Luke ch2 vs13-14. ‘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 good will toward men’. Some trimmings eh?
2. The wrappings around God’s Christmas Gift.
Usually the gift is in a box, wrapped in specially chosen wrapping paper, which hides and protects the gift. These coverings don’t take anything away from the gift. The wrappings of God’s Christmas Gift are found in Luke ch2 vs 12 ‘And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger’. The humble wrappings of God’s Gift.
3. The Substance of God’s Christmas Gift.
In haste, off come the wrappings and we find our gift, and we smile what a lovely surprise. The surprise content of God’s Christmas Gift is found in Galatians ch4 vs4 ‘But when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth His Son, made of a woman made under the law.” What a gift, what a surprise, what love and totally undeserved. The best gift, God’s Son.
4. The Gift Tag of God’s Christmas Gift.
On the Christmas gift wrapping is usually a label stating who the gift is for. Everyone is checking all the gifts to find theirs. To whom is God’s Christmas Gift addressed. The addressee is found in Luke ch2 vs11 ‘For unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord’.
God labels His Christmas Gift to YOU.
5. The Purpose of God’s Christmas Gift
I think the best types of gifts are ones that have a purpose. How many times when you’ve opened your gift have you said ‘How thoughtful, that’s just what I needed’. God’s Gift of His Son had a purpose to and it’s just what we need and it is so thoughtful of Him. It is found in the second part of John ch3 vs16 ‘That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’. This is the purpose of God’s Christmas Gift to you, EVERLASTING LIFE.
6. The Proper Response to God’s Christmas Gift.
What makes giving a gift a pleasant thing to do it’s seeing the proper response. Seeing the joy, the happiness, the glee. The ‘Oh thank you so much’. Alas It is so hurtful when you see someone show their disappointment, they look at you and you can see written all over their face, ‘Is this the best you could do for me? It cuts so deep. The proper response to God’s Christmas Gift is found in John ch1 vs12 ‘But as many as RECEIVED HIM to them gave He power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on His Name’.
How do you think God feels when His Christmas Gift is rejected? The proper response is to RECEIVE Jesus as your personal Saviour. He is God’s Christmas Gift to you.
Have you received the gift of Gods Son?
God Bless,
-Michael Whitehouse