December 2000
Christmas Presents
Christmas is nearly upon us once again. Where have the twelve months gone since we were last charging around getting prepared? I have ventured out to the shops several time so far, seeking those gifts that might bring cheer to my various friends and family members and I have been amazed at the type of presents that seem to be popular this year.
Exclusive gifts can be bought for that special person in your life. For some it is a weekend golf trip, the opportunity to fly an aeroplane, or for one hundred thousand pounds you can buy a trip to the moon. But these gifts, no matter how expensive or exclusive they are, will only last for a short time and then all that will be left will be the memories.
Christmas is an opportunity, although often lost, of thinking about the most exclusive gift that was ever given. The bible says that "when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman." This must be the gift of most value to each of us living today. Not just because of the memory it gives to us, but for the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to "save sinners", those of us who are separated from God because of sin. God, with His great heart of love paid the ultimate price, to provide the gift of greatest value, that you and I might receive without charge, the longest lasting and most exciting of gifts: eternal life. How true might we say this Christmas time, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
A Life of Faith...
The Prophecy of His birth
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." Isaiah 7:14
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
"But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2
The Promise of His birth
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed are thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, that shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:26-35
The Proclamation of His birth
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord....And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us. And the came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-16
Links