Posted Dec 12, 2022 |
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“The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.'” ~Luke 1:35.
We who complain, whine, cheat, steal, lie, and manipulate were given the best gift of all, despite our behaviors. Murder, adultery, and envying what others have–we don’t know how good we have it. Always out for the next best thing causes us to overlook others’ needs and, yet, He fulfilled ours.
Among all of our past, present, and future mistakes, God made a way for us to be free. He sent us the Savior of the world. Jesus is the greatest present and His presence is all we need.
No other gift will do.
The book of Isaiah foretells of Christ’s coming and what will happen because of Him. Hundreds of years before His birth, we have record of His birth and the reasoning for it. Our world has struggled to overcome sin, since the fall of man. The old laws from the Old Testament were not getting the job done because the sacrifices had just become ritualistic.
People get in a rut and just check the boxes, even today.
At some point, I am sure that the people of God just went through the motions of sacrificing their lamb because they probably assumed they broke a law. There were 613 of them and that is a lot to keep track of. No matter how they responded, it just was not enough for God, not because of God, but because of the heart behind the sacrifice.
There was no heart change.
Everything we do always boils down to our heart. If your heart isn’t in it, you won’t do it well or do it at all. When your heart is in a bad place, you will not make wise decisions. It is our hearts that God is after, not how many spotless lambs could be sacrificed. He needed to give away His heart for us to have a true Spotless Lamb, for the ultimate sacrifice that would cover the multitude of sins.
This Sacrifice is free, if we are willing to receive it.
The people learned about Jesus’ coming and wanted to see for themselves. Wise men came. Shepherds came. Mary and Joseph were not expecting to be the parents of the Most High God but when they learned they would be, their hearts were in it. She was blessed and highly favored. He was humble enough to accept the circumstance. Those that came were in awe of the experience. Not one of them took it for granted.
These two seemingly ordinary people brought the King of Kings into the world…a lost and dying world that did not deserve such a gift received the greatest one. This couple had the privilege to teach love to their child so that He would grow up and not depart from it.
Jesus was fully man and fully God.
He was fed by his mother, changed by both of his parents, taught to speak his first words, and picked up when he fell down from toddler walking. He was someone’s child, going through the same events in life that all kids do. Jesus was educated by His parents and the community about the Torah and the trade of carpentry. He learned skills and grew into someone that sought after the Father.
His heart was in it so much that, at the age of 12, He was preaching at the synagogue around other rabbis. He showed what it meant to be all in for God when He questioned His parents about His own whereabouts. It mattered to Him and He made it a priority. He was/is the gift and yet, He chose to see us as gifts. Despite our instinctive ability to do things wrong, get into trouble, or make hazardous mistakes, He still sees us as prized possessions.
How come our view cannot be that way for Him?
Oh, how things would be so different if we could understand that unto a Child is born.
If only we could live as though there was no greater gift.
To cherish the moments He wants to have with us.
To love those around us, just as He loves us.
To care for the needs of others and putting those needs ahead of our own.
To sacrifice our flesh for His holiness.
What a different world it would be if we could just understand that this Child is what we should be living for.
This is the Son of God. His presence was here, on earth, over 2000 years ago, and His present is that He is here through His Spirit for all of those who accept Him in their hearts. We can have peace from the Prince of Peace, love from Love itself, and the authority of the King of kings, if we are willing to accept His gift.
What is holding you back?
This Christmas season, remember that there is a better Gift than anything that could be placed underneath the tree. It is life changing and has been given to all people. Anyone is qualified to have it. Unfortunately, not all will want to accept it. Pick the right gift this season by asking God to be in your life, allowing His Son to be the Lord over who you are. And if you are someone who already asked Jesus into your life but have not been behaving as though He is your most precious gift, now is the time to change that. Ask for forgiveness and begin to live as though you know what it means to have this Child born unto us.
Merry Christmas!
