Dave’s Monday Blast – December 9, 2019

With the passage of time and increased maturity, our excitement regarding Christmas may change. But our reason for celebrating grows deeper and more meaningful as our focus shifts from gifts to Christ. Who is the giver of the most amazing and valuable of all gifts?

The giver of THE gift was God the Father. “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son born of woman…” (Galatians 4:4). And the reason God gave His son was because He loves us” (John 3:16). What can be said about this priceless gift?

Five Thoughts: (Three this week and two next)

The gift from heaven came humbly wrapped. Instead of coming down in a grand display of glory, Jesus was quietly conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin who had no social or economic standing (Luke 1:35). Even the setting of His birth was lowly (Luke 2:6 – 7). While retaining His full deity, He took on the limitations of humanity.

Jesus was the perfect sacrificial gift. Although He looked like any other Jewish baby, there was one big difference…He was the sinless Son of God who had come to earth to rescue sinful humanity from certain condemnation. What was needed was a ransom…someone who could pay the penalty for our sin so we could be forgiven. But no human being was qualified because of our sin. “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

The Son of God is the most precious gift ever given. We generally consider something valuable based on its cost or origin. Jesus is precious because He left His Father and the glories and perfection of heaven to live among us. Jesus was Emmanuel…God with us…walking with us…showing us His character and work. His redemption is priceless. We are redeemed not with silver and gold “but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19).