As I set off to start another “toxic” DAY, (a doctor’s lingo) for a busy duty in the hospital, I whispered a prayer for an opportunity to MAGNIFY HIM. How can I make God big before others, when commercialism has made the act of celebrating more important than the Celebrant? How can I make Him known before others especially during this season when GIFTS have become more important than the GIVER of gifts?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 )
God the Father gave the best gift, sending His Son into the world to be born, and later to die, for the sins of the world (that includes me!).
God the Son humbly submitting to His Father’s will, took off His royal garment (set aside His glory) and was “made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
He was born in a lowly manger, raised as a carpenter’s son: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:3,4
On the cross years later, He fulfilled totally, the criteria for permanent and eternal salvation. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt 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. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa 53:6 -11)
God so loved YOU and ME, that HE GAVE! I don’t have to go through any self-inflicted punishment nor am I required to do good works to be forgiven and saved. CHRIST did it all on the cross and all that I needed to do is to BELIEVE THAT HE DID IT ALL (for YOU and) for ME! "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8)
The best GIFT I have ever received in my life came one day, a few months prior to Christmas, when someone shared to me about the non-perishable gift of eternal life. I realized that I was a sinner bound for hell, “For the wages of sin is death…” and yet, someone intervened and died for me “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)
Since then, I have come upon a peace beyond my understanding. Not a day goes by without me realizing more and more, that “without Him I am nothing” (John 15:5) and yet “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13)
This year, as I join other shoppers in the search for the “perfect gift,” the Lord reminded me that the best gift I can ever give, is the gift of Christ.
“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.” (Luke 2:10 & 11)
"One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down over His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming, O glorious day!" Wilbur Chapman
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