Tuesday, December 21, 2010

God’s Greatest Gift

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (NIV)

Christmas is a time of giving. Ever since the wise men from the east showed up at the stable carrying gold, frankincense, and myrrh, people have been exchanging gifts at Christmas.

But there’s one gift that meets everyone’s need, one gift that will never wear out, never break or need repairing. A gift that is appropriate for a small child, or a teenager, or an adult, or a senior. Boy or girl, man or woman.

The gift we all need, the most valuable gift of all, is the Love of God. No one could give a greater gift than God has already given. We celebrate the fact that God gave us the gift of His own Son, Jesus Christ, so that through faith in Him we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (NIV)

In the gift of Jesus Christ provided by God we have been given love in abundance. Love to save. Love to heal. Love to deliver. Love that will bring you peace with God and peace with mankind.

1. The Gift is Jesus Christ Himself

The gift God offers us is to know Christ.; To know Him as a friend, to have fellowship with Him, to have a relationship with Him. The gift God offers us is to be known and loved by Christ.

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3 (NIV)

2. The Gift Has Great Value

Knowing Christ is worth more than anything else in this world; in fact, knowing Christ is worth more than everything else in this world. We will never be disappointed by Him. He is that treasure; He’s that pearl of great value.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

3. The Gift must be Received

“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.” John 1:12 (NIV)

Christmas is about love. A God who so loved that He gave His only Son Jesus, the sinless Son of God, born in Bethlehem as a sacrifice for man. God is expressing his love to us and wants us to come, receive and accept and respond to it.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

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