The Greatest Christmas Gift
- Michael Smith
- Dec 21, 2008
The Greatest Christmas Gift
michael smith 2008
Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of Christ.
It is also a time for family and friends to lay aside our cares and concerns for a short time and just enjoy one another. It is enjoying good food and the sharing of gifts.
What is it though that we consider to be a great gift? And by what standard do we attach value to a gift? By its cost? Or sacrifice?
There is a gift that was given to us even though we did not deserve the gift at great cost and sacrifice. And this gift is free.
This gift came wrapped in the humblest of wrappings and was born in a stable, not in a great palace of gold and fine linen.
But does this lowly birth diminish the gift? On the contrary, it helps us to consider God's gift and to not miss the simplicity and purity of Jesus Christ.
Here we are as,,
Eph. 2:12 says ,,, having no hope and without God in the world.
Yet God wanted to dwell with us and give us hope.
So at the "appointed time" God sent forth an angel to proclaimed great news that a savior is born. A savior who will take away the sins of the world.
Luke 2:8-11
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
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And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Matt. 1:21- 23
"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
Emmanuel, God chose to come and be with us. To reveal His love for us. That we are not alone and left to the circumstances of life.
God so loved us that He sent and allowed His son to be subjected to the conditions and elements of this world. And then to be crucified and then resurrected that we could have eternal life and forever be with the Father in heaven.
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Imagine Jesus the Son of God existing in a place where there is no pain, no sorrow and the presence of God permeates everything. Then to leave that perfect place willingly and be born into a lost and dying world where mankind could exert its will over Him.
How great a love that is, that God would send forth His only begotten Son and give everyone the opportunity to believe on His Son and to not perish but gain everlasting life.
This is big news. This is "hark the herald angels sing" kinda news.
How excited heaven must have been that the appointed time had come.
Can you imagine all heaven excited that Mary had agreed to believe God and carry the baby Jesus. Or that Joseph decided to believe God and lean not on his own understanding.
There gonna do it!! There gonna do it!!
How about the angel who got the honor to announce the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A savior is born!!! A savior is born!!!
Can you imagine the rejoicing and excitement in heaven?
This was a awesome event. The appointed time had come.
All of heaven shouting glory to God in the highest.
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What a gift that was being given!!!
The birth of a savior.
Christ's coming and sacrifice was not only that we might now be able to enter into God's presence, it also was to cleanse us from all our sin so that God could come and be with us, Emmanuel.
We once were lost and without hope but now through Christ's birth, death and resurrection we can now have Christ dwelling within us as our hope of Glory. We only have to ask Jesus to forgive us and be Lord and savior of our lives.
There could never be the death and ressurection without a birth. So the birth of Jesus was paramount.
The giving of this great gift " Christ's birth" is what we celebrate each year at Christmas. Jesus who takes away the sins of the whole world.
Let us seek Jesus this season with our whole heart and receive the fullness of Christ in our hearts.
We use to have a wonderful tradition here of standing and confessing Jesus is my Lord and Savior.
I would like to give you the opportunity to do that this morning.
