It has always brought excitement to my heart as the Christmas season approaches. It starts when we put up the Christmas tree and start listening to the Christmas Hymns & Carols.
In my childhood days, I loved to sit in the dark and just look at the beautifully decorated tree, and I still like to do that. Now it gives me time to reflect about my life and how good God has been to me.
We like to give or receive gifts, but we are not the only ones that can give gifts. There is someone that can even give better gifts. It is the living God!
Luke 11:13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God makes available many good gifts, but they cannot be purchased or bought. They are free.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” Romans 5:15-21 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
As I read in a local newspaper where a child said in his letter to Santa, “I have only been a little good this year so I understand if I don’t get everything” we really do not deserve anything, but God is so merciful and loving that he has given us wonderful gifts.
John 3:16 (see above) Ephesians 2:8&9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The most important gift is a new relationship to the living resurrected Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness of our sins.
Romans 3:23 ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,...
This Christmas season may you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.