Great Gift Idea - Under $1
‘Tis the Season
A harried woman with two small children and armloads of packages squeezes her way onto the crowded elevator at the mall. To no one in particular she remarks, “Whoever came up with this Christmas idea ought to be taken out and executed.” A quiet voice from the back of the elevator responded, “Don’t worry they already crucified Him!”
Why do we give presents at Christmas time anyway? Some will respond ‘tis the season’. Some might remind us of the pagan rituals surrounding the birth of the New Year at Winter Solstice.
‘Christians’ might respond with various replies. We are commemorating the birth of Christ. We are emulating the ‘Wise Men’ from the Bible who brought gifts to Christ. Some will relate the Christmas story of the birth of Christ and the angels, and the manger.
All of these are ‘correct’ answers. The truth is we DID co-opt ‘Christmas’ from pagan rituals. There have for many generations been peoples that celebrated the Winter Solstice, and rebirth of the New Year. The ‘Wise Men’ did bring gifts to the baby Jesus. God did give us a great gift in giving His Son to live among us.
Let us look at the ‘Christmas Story’.
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”” Luke 2:1-11
The real ‘gift’ of Christmas is in verse 11, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
God gave us a Savior. The ‘real’ Christmas gift is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our Savior. John 3:16 explains, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Hebrews 10:10 & 12 tells us, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,”
We rejoice at Christmas, that God gave us His Son to live among us… That was an awesome gift. Jesus Christ was a great teacher and philosopher. More than that, His death on the cross was the sacrifice for all our sins - forever.
While celebrating the birth of Christ, we should also recognize His greatest gift to us, eternal life for all who believe. Jesus Christ suffered an agonizing death to pay the penalty for our sins - so that we are judged righteous before God.
That is the true ‘PRICELESS’ gift of Christmas - yet it costs us less than $1. To receive this great gift, all we have to do is believe…
Christmas is an opportunity to receive the greatest gift ever given, and to share that gift freely with all our family and loved ones…
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
A harried woman with two small children and armloads of packages squeezes her way onto the crowded elevator at the mall. To no one in particular she remarks, “Whoever came up with this Christmas idea ought to be taken out and executed.” A quiet voice from the back of the elevator responded, “Don’t worry they already crucified Him!”
Why do we give presents at Christmas time anyway? Some will respond ‘tis the season’. Some might remind us of the pagan rituals surrounding the birth of the New Year at Winter Solstice.
‘Christians’ might respond with various replies. We are commemorating the birth of Christ. We are emulating the ‘Wise Men’ from the Bible who brought gifts to Christ. Some will relate the Christmas story of the birth of Christ and the angels, and the manger.
All of these are ‘correct’ answers. The truth is we DID co-opt ‘Christmas’ from pagan rituals. There have for many generations been peoples that celebrated the Winter Solstice, and rebirth of the New Year. The ‘Wise Men’ did bring gifts to the baby Jesus. God did give us a great gift in giving His Son to live among us.
Let us look at the ‘Christmas Story’.
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”” Luke 2:1-11
The real ‘gift’ of Christmas is in verse 11, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
God gave us a Savior. The ‘real’ Christmas gift is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our Savior. John 3:16 explains, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Hebrews 10:10 & 12 tells us, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,”
We rejoice at Christmas, that God gave us His Son to live among us… That was an awesome gift. Jesus Christ was a great teacher and philosopher. More than that, His death on the cross was the sacrifice for all our sins - forever.
While celebrating the birth of Christ, we should also recognize His greatest gift to us, eternal life for all who believe. Jesus Christ suffered an agonizing death to pay the penalty for our sins - so that we are judged righteous before God.
That is the true ‘PRICELESS’ gift of Christmas - yet it costs us less than $1. To receive this great gift, all we have to do is believe…
Christmas is an opportunity to receive the greatest gift ever given, and to share that gift freely with all our family and loved ones…
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
posted by Unchained Slave at 12:06 PM
2 Comments:
Amen! Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift!
Even though some parts of our modern Christmas celebrations match some older pagan roots, I think it's just as easy to assign new meanings to why we celebrate. A tree, because Christ died on a tree; lights, because God is the Father of lights in whom it no shadow of turning, etc.
Thanks for these wonderful thoughts, and Merry Christmas!
Hi David,
Welcome back!
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