Under our Christmas tree right now are gifts…not many this year, but one each for our two kids. In an hour or so, they will get up. Imagine if the kids got up, looked at the gifts under the tree, shrugged their shoulders and then went on about some *other* business and never “bothered” to open or to receive the gift!
Or imagine maybe they do get that far…they open their specially chosen gift and their eyes light up and then don’t believe it is for them, set it down and never touch it, never use it, never appropriate it.
Their father and I would be so disappointed, certainly.
I wonder if many of us are caught in this very thing where the gifts of God are concerned–especially THE gift. Jesus said he came that we might experience and have as OURS…”abundant life!” Are you experiencing the joy of that gift daily? Am I? He came that we might have our wounds bound up and be set free. Are we experiencing the thrill of these gifts daily?
Christmas is about so much more than a baby in a manger. That baby in a manger is a powerful story.
The Apostle John told the “Christmas” story like this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:1-5,10-14)
If we choose to embrace this gift from God, we, experience the freedom he came to give to us. As we partake of this freedom, our lives our radically transformed…slowly, perhaps, but when we really BELIEVE what He says is true–that we are free, that we are forgiven, that all is paid for, that we are His children, that we are more than conquerors–when we appropriate the gift that he has given, there is spiritual health that flows through us.
He condescended from his throne in heaven, not merely to be remembered as a baby at Christmas time. He came to set you free. He has done so. It is a gift extended. Will you take His gift…and if you have received his gift, will you open it and appropriate it? It is yours. Believe it, use it, enjoy it, relish it! LIVE!
Or imagine maybe they do get that far…they open their specially chosen gift and their eyes light up and then don’t believe it is for them, set it down and never touch it, never use it, never appropriate it.
Their father and I would be so disappointed, certainly.
I wonder if many of us are caught in this very thing where the gifts of God are concerned–especially THE gift. Jesus said he came that we might experience and have as OURS…”abundant life!” Are you experiencing the joy of that gift daily? Am I? He came that we might have our wounds bound up and be set free. Are we experiencing the thrill of these gifts daily?
Christmas is about so much more than a baby in a manger. That baby in a manger is a powerful story.
The Apostle John told the “Christmas” story like this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:1-5,10-14)
If we choose to embrace this gift from God, we, experience the freedom he came to give to us. As we partake of this freedom, our lives our radically transformed…slowly, perhaps, but when we really BELIEVE what He says is true–that we are free, that we are forgiven, that all is paid for, that we are His children, that we are more than conquerors–when we appropriate the gift that he has given, there is spiritual health that flows through us.
He condescended from his throne in heaven, not merely to be remembered as a baby at Christmas time. He came to set you free. He has done so. It is a gift extended. Will you take His gift…and if you have received his gift, will you open it and appropriate it? It is yours. Believe it, use it, enjoy it, relish it! LIVE!
Amen, amen and amen. Praise the Lord that we are His children. Thanks to The Gift, we’ve been given so much more than we deserve. Merry Christmas sweet Heidi. I am so thankful we have opened The Gift and will live now and forevermore!((hugs))