The Ultimate Gift
(12/17/03)
Greetings to the Church that Used to Meet at Betsy's House,
This is perhaps the worst time of the year for me. It is getting better, at least for my family, with each passing year.
This time of Christmas is, at least to my mind, basically a time for extravagant giving with little, or no, concern about the true meaning of the season. Now, I am not saying that expressing our love for family and friends by giving them gifts is not good. What I am saying is that it misses the point of Christmas if Christ is not the "reason for the season".
As I look about me I see some fat guy in a red suit being pulled around by a bunch of animals. I see evergreens with all kinds of stuff hanging on them---I see people "Christmas" singing carols and getting all sentimental. All well and good but where is Christ? Families get together, which is great, but for what reason? Look around you and see if you can see Christ!
The Bible teaches us that we are the recipients of the greatest gift that has ever been presented to mankind, the Lord Incarnate. In John 1:14 we read, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." That monumental event is commonly called the Incarnation. Can you imagine---God, Himself, becoming just like us. Making Himself a mere man and entering this world as a tiny baby, helpless and powerless.
Consider Phillipians 2:6-11 as Paul recites the truth about the Savior, "Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Now there is a gift and it is given for all!!!
This can be the greatest Christmas ever for some who have never "opened" the true gift of the season. To open it at this very moment all that's required is that you believe the gospel and you are made righteous before the Father and receive eternal life. From that point on you can look forward to being with Him forever and enjoying His Presence without end. It is the "Priceless Gift".
His Word is so clear, all we need to do is simply believe, and nothing more. The gospel of the grace of God is simple and forthright----Paul records it for us in I Corinthians 15:3-4, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures".
With Paul I encourage, no beg, you to "open" that ultimate present. Take God at His word and believe. This then will be "the" Christmas in which Christ will be born in your heart.
For those of you who have already opened your Present be sure to pass the Present on to those who have not.
I love the words of the old hymn, "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace".
Remember Him in spite of the worlds push to ignore Him even at the season that bears His very name. Christ-mas!!!
Enjoy your family and friends and share with them the Person who is in your heart.
Now, even though the world has made this season a commercial enterprise I've learned with Paul that we can use it even if they "preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely......But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."
We will be meeting at Ukrops at the regular time this Friday evening.
In His Love,
Tomme
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