After laying there under the tree for what seemed like an enternity, Christmas Day finally arrived. It was time to open the gifts that were scattered beneath the lighted branches of this tree. One person after the next ripped through the beautifully decorated gifts with great anticipation. For some, the elegantly wrapped gifts were wishes fulfilled. For others, the beautiful packaging only held disappointment. One by one, each gift was opened. Yet, no one reached for this nondescript little package. As it witnessed the other gifts being opened, it wanted to scream out, "Open me! I have something wonderful to give, too!" Yet, it kept silent, hoping for someone to notice. It knew that there would be those in the group who would not open it. After all, who would believe such a small, plain package could have any thing of value to them.
So, the little gift sat, waiting patiently for someone to reach for it, for someone to finally open it and discover it's contents. As the gifts under the tree dwindled down, people began losing the excitement they had when they first began opening the gifts. As the number of unopened packages thinned, so did all of their hopes and dreams for this Christmas morn. Surely there wasn't much left to look forward to. Finally, after all other gifts had been opened, it was the plain, little gift's turn. Someone reached for it. "Funny," the person said, "The nametag simply says, 'To Everyone, With all My Love, God.'" Those opening the gifts laughed. "Okay, who is the wise guy!" said one. "How could such a plain, small package be a gift for everyone?" said another. Still one said, "I don't believe this is from God. A gift from God would be big and flashy! It wouldn't be so plain!" Yet another stated, "Well, I just don't believe in God. Very funny, guys!"
Curious, the person who had picked up the gift slowly opened it. It was light as a feather. He shook it to determine it's contents. As he ripped off the paper and peeked inside, what He saw amazed him. It was a simple, wooden cross with a verse scratched on a ragged piece of paper. "“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16(NLT)
As he read the verse, a hush fell over the room. After a few moments, the stillness of the room was interrupted by an obnoxious laugh. "Are you kidding me?", said one. "I just can't believe that! It's just not logical!" Another followed suit, "You're right! I don't believe that this Jesus guy was God's Son. Didn't you see that TV special that said that Christ was just some guy who hung on the cross for three days and survived?"
But among the littering of paper, bows, boxes, and gifts, some in the group realized the truth of that simple verse. They knew without a doubt that the greatest gift of all didn't come in a beautifully wrapped package. The greatest gift of all gave up His throne in heaven, came as a lowly carpenter, and hung on the cross and died to save mankind from His sin. They realized the greatest gift of all rose from the dead in three days, appeared to the apostles and others after His death before ascending to heaven to claim His throne. Realizing the error of their ways, some accepted Christ right there in the midst of that Christmas morn. For them, the true meaning of Christmas was found and their lives were never the same again.
And so, we too, can discover the most wonderful gift of all, the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him today. He won't disappoint.
6 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.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)
1 Who has believed our report?And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 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.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they[a] made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul,[b]and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53 (NKJV)
God bless you and yours! Share the love of Christ with others this holiday season. Merry Christmas, friends!
In His Love, Cathy
No comments:
Post a Comment