The Greatest Gift

During the Christmas season there is a great amount of conversation about gifts - what you want; what you got; and what you gave. Even in the Bible there is the list of gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. If someone were to ask you "what is the best or greatest gift you have ever received," many people would think back to their childhood to recall a special Christmas gift that became a favorite toy.

Over the past three weeks, I have written about three gifts that God offers to us because of our relationship to Him - hope, peace, and joy. Paul even wrote in Romans 15:13 a verse that mentions all three of these gifts.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace

in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit

you may abound in hope."

Paul's prayer or request of God for the believers he was addressing is a tremendous reminder of what God can provide or give to us because of our faith. But there is one gift that outshines all the rest and enables the fulfillment of hope, joy, and peace.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but

have eternal life."

John 3:16

God's greatest gift to all people was the gift of Jesus. Jesus took on human flesh and was born as a baby. He grew into manhood, taught His disciples, performed miracles and healings, and demonstrated God's love, forgiveness, and mercy. But Jesus' greatest action was taking upon Himself the sin of mankind as He died on the cross. Three days later He would rise from death as God accepted His sacrifice in our behalf. The greatest gift ever offered to any of us is the gift of Jesus Christ. He is the real reason we celebrate His birth in a stable by an inn at the little town of Bethlehem.

Why did God offer this gift of Jesus to the world? Because He loves us and desires that we all have an eternal relationship with Him when we place our faith in Jesus alone. To know that God gave His only Son is information worth having. But God's gift must be accepted by us personally by putting our faith in Jesus and making Him the Lord of our lives.

We don't turn down gifts from family and friends. We accept those gifts and use them. Let us not be foolish in refusing to accept the greatest gift ever given. God offers us the gift of life abundant and life eternal all through Jesus Christ. This is the best time to accept Him and share Him with others. God gave the greatest gift because He loves you.

May you truly celebrate this Christmas with hope, peace, joy, and love in your life because you have received Jesus the Christ into your life. Merry Christmas.