The Ultimate Gift; not just for Christmas
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the ne and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He give his one and only Son, that whoever believes him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
I was always excited for Christmas. It was anticipation for presents, for Santa coming—and would I get to spot him this year? And if I did, would he vanish up the roof, leaving nothing, and I would ruin Christmas for my family? Oh, the eagerness, the excitement, the impatience of having to wait! Hadn’t I already waited all year?
We would go to church services Christmas Eve, and then were allowed to open one gift, then off to bed. I would try all sorts of excuses, always with a loving firm ‘no, off to bed,’ so off I’d go full of the hope of staying awake.
Christmas was just as exciting for me as I got a little older, twelve and into the teens, as I loved to watch my parents, grandmother and siblings open the gifts I’d carefully selected for them, hoping it would be perfect!
Once our family opened our gifts, we shared a wonderfully yummy breakfast, a couple of times I got to regale my parents about hearing Santa on the roof, with the occasional jingle of the bells. Scary! Should I sleep? Would he know and take off? Would he be very angry if I did sneak out of bed? I always chose to strain to continue listening while lying in bed, gauging where he was. ‘I hope he likes these molasses cookies I helped make.’
Then, there would be no more pattering on the roof, no more bells jingling. Should I get up and peek? No, too late now. Santa was gone, the presents would be there, so nothing left to do.
As I got older and came to know the TRUE meaning the TRUE gift we were all given on that day, it was far less about presents. I still like picking out something I think is special for another, but it is so less about gifts, more now about serving, honoring and sharing what He did by His birth, life, and then the last three years of His life FOR US.
Jesus gave up His time in heaven with His Father, to come among us, to serve, teach, and show us how to love, truly love others. The Messiah gave us all, if we are willing to accept the gift, the best, most vital gift of our lives; He gave us His life as the final blood sacrifice so our sins could be forgiven. Then He ensured that we did not need to have another sacrifice ready to go for the following week because we were bound to have committed some sin according to the law of old.
We are sinful, selfish creatures, yet His life and death, and resurrection shows us that we are free to have our sins forgiven. One has only to reach out to Him, ask Him to be your Savior, confess your sin, ask Him forgiveness, and it is forgiven.
He did this ultimate sacrifice for us, as undeserving as we are, and gave us the gift that keeps on giving. He is there for us. Jesus, our Messiah, our Savior lives, and He loves and forgives us.
Jesus loves us, He wants to be with us, He lives within us. I pray if you do not know Him, you give Him a chance. The Sacrificial Lamb wants you, waits for you and He eagerly waits for you to choose Him; He wants to forgive your sins, and shower you with His love and peace.
I am so thankful I know the Love and Peace for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Wishing you all Christmas blessings and understanding the true meaning of His gift. God bless
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