The Perfect Gift

“when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Galatians 4:4–5


A good friend text this past week asking for suggestions on what to get his wife for Christmas. Every suggestion I made he had either already purchased for her in previous years or was something she probably wouldn’t want. Not wanting to leave him hanging I asked my wife and she gave me a list of five or six things that I passed along. None were things he had gotten her so my wife came through in the clutch.

For many this time of year is stressful trying to find the perfect gift. I am always reminded of an old saying I read years ago, “the more expensive the toy the more likely the child will play with the box the gift came in.” It’s proven itself to be true on more than one occasion. With only a few days left before Christmas I find it refreshing to study the birth of Jesus into this world and the reason behind it. It helps me recapture the true meaning and purpose of Christmas.

Plain and simple, Christmas is the season, Jesus is the reason! Christmas is the celebration of our Savior being born into this world to save us from our sins. Knowing Jesus was born to die doesn’t diminish the joy of Christmas, it actually heightens it. The writer of Hebrews gives us much insight in understanding the baby who was born to die. In Hebrews 2:9-10 we read, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Verses 14-15 goes on to say, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

What blows my mind most is the realization that this plan of Christmas, the gift of salvation was in the heart of God long before the world was even created. The apostle Paul explains it all in Ephesians 1:3-10, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.”

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He came to earth. Jesus was born to die, to be the sacrifice that would remove our sins once and for all, all for the glory of His Father we read in Hebrews 10:5-7, “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God’” Christmas is the season and Jesus is the reason. Jesus Christ was born to die so that all who would place their hope and trust in Him would live.

Jesus really is the gift that keeps on giving. He might have been born over 2000 years ago yet He is still being born into hearts that receive the gift of God that was born into the world that first Christmas morning. If you have not received the gift of salvation, it’s never too late. Open your heart to Jesus, invite Him in and discover for yourself the thrill of hope and the meaning of life!


“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.”

Isaiah 9:6


I LOVE YOU!  



 



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