The Christmas season is upon us again. A time where many people find themselves busy with all the holiday preparation. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must be focused, intentional, and deliberate during this season to stay Christ centered. If not, we will be pulled into all of the trappings that make it about men and not about Him, the man Christ Jesus.
We say He is the reason for the season and that is true. However, a broader truth is that we are the reason for the season. Luke chapter 19 verse 10 says from the message bible “The Son of man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.” When Adam sinned, he was not the only one who lost, we all did. We lost our spiritual connection to God. We also lost our ability to walk, talk, and have divine fellowship with God. However, God made provisions for our reconciliation before the foundations of the world was laid. It came through Jesus the Christ. Revelation chapter 13 verse 8 says “Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
On that first Christmas night when God’s gift of reconciliation to the world was born, we find Him (Jesus) wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. The word wrapped speaks to me for it reminds me of all the wrapping that Anita my wife and I do at Christmas with the gifts that we get our children. After we wrap their gifts, and put their names on them, we place them under the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning they will know which gift is theirs for it will have their name on it. There is something very important that we must understand. A gift is not a gift until it is received. If our kids do not take the gift with their name of it and open it up, they will never know what is inside the box and therefore it is still not a gift because it has not been received. Its not until they open the gift and receive the content that it becomes a gift.
It works the same way with the gift of eternal life that Jesus Christ offers. We all are offered that gift with our name on it. It’s when we take it and open our hearts to receive it that it become a gift. Paul the Apostle said in Romans chapter 6 verse 23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” May this Christmas season be one where you unwrap all that His word says is yours and receive by faith the gifts that only He can give. MERRY CHRISTMAS
Billy, what an awesome message!!! What a sweet way to compare an unwrapped gift. It isn’t a gift until it is opened. Thank you because I needed another message today which brought me back to the true meaning of Christmas.