The Gift that Keeps on Giving

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 (Isaiah 9:6)

 

When we are children, and sadly, sometimes still as adults, we dream about the gifts that we are to receive at Christmas. We often look for the newest, shiniest, and most expensive things hoping that they will satisfy. But sadly, the shine wears off, something better comes along, and the longing for more starts gnawing in our guts again. I have the secret to that angst. You see when God created man He left one space empty- it was a space the size of a manger. He always had the intention of enlarging that small space to a full-size mansion, but he just needed a little room in the inn of our hearts. And thus was born, the story of Christmas.

When God gave Jesus to mankind, He gave the best gift that would ever be given. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever would believe Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus was not forced to give his life, however. Jesus agreed, before the foundation of the earth, to be sent as a sacrifice to reconcile us to God. Before Adam and Eve sinned, in fact,  before they were ever created,  the Holy Trinity came up with a plan of redemption. They celebrated Jesus' decision to be born a man through a virgin. God the Father spoke the Word, Holy Spirit implanted that Word, Jesus, in Mary. The process was as seamless as Creation when God spoke  the worlds into existence. Jesus, the very Logos of Word, came from His mouth and the breath of God’s speech, the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha’Kodesh), hovered again over the blackness and worlds were created.

 Jesus agreed to leave his heavenly throne and be born to poor parents and to live in an occupied land. At that time, Israel was being subjugated by the world’s greatest power, Rome.  The Jewish people were looking for the Messiah, the Savior, who had been proclaimed by Isaiah.  But like so many today, they were looking in the wrong place. They expected him to be born to wealthy parents, learned rabbi and rebbitzin, or  to come from the courts of kings, not be born in Bethlehem of Judah, the least of all the cities. He lived as a blue-collar worker and was suspected to be a bastard, an illegitimate child.

 He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

5But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

though he had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in his mouth.

because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors( Isaiah 53:3-8)

Jesus walked through the dust and grime of life to be able to be our intercessor. To know what it feels like  to be a man. He saw man’s most evil side as he lay on the cross crucified between two thieves. Yet, his love provoked him to say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He touched swindlers, thieves, prostitutes, and the self-righteous and he loved them all. He invited them to the table and to entered His Father’s house. For it was that reason, that he came. Then he endured death on the cross, bearing all or our sins so that we could be reconciled to God and experience eternal life.

Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving- He said that he came that we might have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). He came to remove fear, anxiety, sickness, lack, disease, hatred, unforgiveness, and bitterness. He even destroyed the very works of Satan and defeated death and the grave.  Even after his death, he continues to work for us as our ever-living intercessor pleading on our behalf.

Moreover, he promises to return and take us to a very special mansion he has built according our desires and wishes.  As you make room for him in your heart, he is making room for you in eternity. He is the only gift of which you will never of tire, that will always hold your interest, spark your enthusiasm. He never dulls, tatters, or rots. That would be the treasure of the world. No, the more you know of the more you want to know and them ore you will realize that you have not begun to know Him. He is the gift which keeps on giving.

Would you like to know more of Him today?

He asks only one thing- that you let him live his life through you. Because Christ lived and died for you, he asks you to allow him to live his life through you:

 "I have been crucified with Christ and it is not longer who lives, but Christ who lives within and the life I live for the Son of God who died for me. Accept the Gift of Christ means that He gets to live His life now through you and that’s the best gift you can give God this  Christmas season"  (Galatians 2:20)

When you think of Gift- think of this little acronym: God’s Investment For Mankind’s Eventual Triumphant  Return Home . He wants you to spend eternity with him. If you make room in the inn of your heart for him, he has a mansion for you in heaven and abundant life here on earth.

Enlarging My Heart This Christmas,

MJ