Gifts Under The Tree
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15
I read that over thirty-three million American homes will purchase fresh cut Christmas trees this season. Families all over this nation are happily stringing lights and pulling out musty boxes of homemade ornaments. They are preparing the tree for Christmas morning when bright packages will bring excitement to both children and adults.
This morning I want you to recognize that the most significant tree of the Christmas season is not the one in your family room, it is the tree that was formed into a cross on a lonely hill just outside of Jerusalem. On that tree, God placed the greatest gift of all—the Saviour.
God’s sacrificial gift brought us into the very presence of God. Luke 1:32 says, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David.” The reason the angels and shepherds rejoiced after Jesus’ birth was because they had been in the very presence of God’s Son.
Not only were they brought into His presence; they were brought to the living God. For the first time, He was manifested in bodily form. We read in John 1:14, “And the Word 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.”
Isaiah 7:14 gives us another example of Jesus Christ and His presence as the living God: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel literally means “God with us.”
I recently heard of a woman who left her husband. The husband called the police and filed a missing persons report. The police found her living at a rundown hotel. By this time her husband realized how badly he had treated his wife. He began to write her many letters. Finally Christmas came, and he went to visit her. “Won’t you please come home?” he asked. She complied. On the way home, he said, “I’ve written you for months, why did you come home so easily this time?” Her answer—“Those were just letters. This time you came in person.”
The greatest gift ever given was when Jesus came to earth in person and was crucified on the cross for our sins. Friend, have you accepted this gift? All of the beautiful Christmas trees and presents in the world cannot take the place of God’s gift to you—Jesus Christ.
by: Dr. Paul Chappell
I read that over thirty-three million American homes will purchase fresh cut Christmas trees this season. Families all over this nation are happily stringing lights and pulling out musty boxes of homemade ornaments. They are preparing the tree for Christmas morning when bright packages will bring excitement to both children and adults.
This morning I want you to recognize that the most significant tree of the Christmas season is not the one in your family room, it is the tree that was formed into a cross on a lonely hill just outside of Jerusalem. On that tree, God placed the greatest gift of all—the Saviour.
God’s sacrificial gift brought us into the very presence of God. Luke 1:32 says, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David.” The reason the angels and shepherds rejoiced after Jesus’ birth was because they had been in the very presence of God’s Son.
Not only were they brought into His presence; they were brought to the living God. For the first time, He was manifested in bodily form. We read in John 1:14, “And the Word 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.”
Isaiah 7:14 gives us another example of Jesus Christ and His presence as the living God: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel literally means “God with us.”
I recently heard of a woman who left her husband. The husband called the police and filed a missing persons report. The police found her living at a rundown hotel. By this time her husband realized how badly he had treated his wife. He began to write her many letters. Finally Christmas came, and he went to visit her. “Won’t you please come home?” he asked. She complied. On the way home, he said, “I’ve written you for months, why did you come home so easily this time?” Her answer—“Those were just letters. This time you came in person.”
The greatest gift ever given was when Jesus came to earth in person and was crucified on the cross for our sins. Friend, have you accepted this gift? All of the beautiful Christmas trees and presents in the world cannot take the place of God’s gift to you—Jesus Christ.
by: Dr. Paul Chappell
posted by mS eLoVe | 3:39 PM
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