The Christmas Gift

The Christmas Gift

Christmas is a time of giving gifts. Don't you enjoy giving gifts to those you love?

 This trend started with GOD Himself giving mankind the best gift of all.

 "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.

John 3:16 

*********************************************

Precious and expensive gifts are given wrapped.

  GOD'S Very Precious gift was given wrapped in swaddling cloths.

 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7

**********************************************

The gifts are given at Christmas time, on Christmas eve or on Christmas day.

Yes, GOD gave His gift at the right time.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

  Galatians 4:4

***********************************************

Presents are brought out of the cupboards and either left under the Christmas tree or handed to the individuals.

GOD'S gift was left in a manger where common people could have access to this Very Precious Gift.

 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."

Luke 2:10-12

***********************************************

Have you received gifts that have fancy wrapping and given with flamboyancy, yet when opened brought disappointment?  

GOD'S gift is like those gifts that didn't appear fancy and you were not even interested to open. When you saw such a gift you despised the gift and the giver in your heart.

He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

Isaiah 53:3

***********************************************

To make the best use of any present, you need to receive it, unwrap it, read any given instructions and make good use of it so that you may benefit by its goodness. As you start using the gift according to the instructions, you will know whether it is something useful for you, easy to handle, strong and lasting, bringing a change to your life. That would be simply wonderful!

GOD'S gift is The Saviour. He gives you salvation.

GOD'S gift is Immanuel. He brings GOD'S Very Presence to us.

GOD'S Gift is specific for you and is able to change your life for good not only here and now but for eternity! His gift for you and given to you in love is truly Wonderful!!

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 

***********************************************

Have you ever experienced the  pain and sadness that comes when a loved one rejects or does not receive with gratitude your gift of love?

Such is the pain in the heart of GOD when His people reject His Most Precious Gift of Love.

 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 1:10-11

***********************************************

The benefit of the gift depends on what the gift is.

What the Son Of GOD offers us is son-ship of GOD. 

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

John 1:12

**********************************************

Isn't it common courtesy to receive a gift with 'Thanks'?

GOD'S gift for you is still available to you, is accessible to you and is waiting for you. Would you receive this gift with gratitude and enjoy all the blessings He has planned for you in the new year?

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

**********************************************

**********************************************

**********************************************

**********************************************

Come and Worship the New Born King!

                                 

  True Worship

True worship is absolute surrender of one's spirit, soul and body to The One Who has all authority over his/her life. Soul comprises of will, intellect and emotion.

True worship is the response of a person when he connects with his Creator God.

True worship originates in the spirit of man which connects with God. Then it proceeds to the soul and body, bringing him to the posture of kneeling, bowing down and prostrating himself before God.

Do I choose to worship my Creator and Redeemer?

If I am wise, I will sincerely and diligently seek Him Who is The Truth, so that I may worship Him.

Matthew 2:1-2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2:11-12 

 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The wise men probably spent over a year travelling to Bethlehem. The decision they made, to visit the new born King of the Jews was a major one. 

What was the purpose?

 was it simply to worship Him

and to offer gifts to Him?

Worship is not simple. It means offering yourself.

Then they offered gifts which were symbols of their spirit, soul and body.

Was it worth all the time and effort spent on their mission?

Of course not, if their worship was just an act which lasted a few minutes and if they returned all the way back the same way!

That would have been foolishness:

But they were wise men. 

Visiting and worshipping the new born King of the Jews meant everything to them. They knew that their lives would be changed eternally if they worshipped Him!

Yes, they worshipped and 'departed for their own country another way'!!

That is true worship.

Your life will be eternally changed every time you worship in spirit and in truth.

May we so worship JESUS CHRIST this CHRISTMAS.