Christmas IS A Gift

TITLE: Christmas IS A Gift
DATE: December 7, 2019
​
Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: Romans 6:23 ESV - 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Since we are in the first week of Advent, I thought it appropriate to ask, “What is Christmas?”

 It's that time of year again and the same old problem tops the Christmas lists: What  do you get someone who already has everything?

Not so long ago I came across a magazine which made a few suggestions. High on their list for you to give to the individual who has everything was

• a $5,000 bottle of 130-year-old cognac?
• Then they wondered if the golfer in your life would like a $1,000 golf bag equipped with stereo and cellular telephone.
• Maybe a Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide for $49,000 would get their motor running.
• They suggested a jet boat which tops out over 70 MPH.
• One of the ones *I liked best was a personal blimp which sold at a price tag north of a million dollars.
• Things soon started to get expensive. There was a Spanish mansion for 110-million bucks
• And a trip to outer space for a price which was negotiable.

Now I could be wrong, but I’m willing to go out on the limb and bet I will get very few phone calls from our Daily Devotiouners asking, “Where can I put a bid in on the Spanish mansion?” I’m pretty confident most of us won’t see these gifts wrapped up under our Christmas tree on December 25th.

Of course our wherewithal doesn't stop us from dreaming when this time of year rolls around.
What is Christmas?

If you said Christmas was a time for gifts and for giving you would be pretty close to right.

Christmas is a time of gifts. After all, there was a gift for each of us in that Bethlehem stable 2,000 years ago. The gift was not mass-produced. It was one of a kind

It was not cheap, indeed, it was most costly.

Still it was a gift which wasn’t withheld from anyone. True, over the centuries there are those who have left their gift unclaimed and unopened.

I pray you are among those who have received the Gift which was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. It is my hope that you have looked into that feeding trough and with eyes of faith been able to look past the straw and not seen just a Baby, but your Savior from sin.

It is my prayer you have read the card which comes with the Gift.

If not, let me read it to you. In the heavenly Father’s handwriting it says:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THE PRAYER: Lord many gifts wear out; same we grow out of. May I always be faithful and never outgrow my Savior. In His Name I gratefully pray. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html