God-Gifts of Christmas

We enjoy receiving gifts any time during the year, but we especially enjoy them at Christmas. Most of the time the wrapped gifts we receive include physical things, but other gifts, not wrapped, may come as intangible things like love and care by family members, good health, Christmas music, beautiful decorations, and celebrations with special friends or family. Did you know that the Bible tells us that God has given gifts to people? The phrase, “Gift of God,” occurs several times in the Bible and here are some of these God-gifts.

1)    The Gift of Salvation. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is God’s deliverance of people from the power and effects of sin through the work of Jesus Christ dying on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin. Salvation is the sinner's rescue from death to life with God.

2)    The Gift of God’s Grace. The Apostle Paul tells us, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power” (Ephesians 3:7). Since all of us are sinners, we must rely on Jesus’ death on the cross on our behalf to receive forgiveness of sin and enjoy eternal salvation.

3)    The Gift of Eternal Life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This gift is available to anyone who believes in Christ and trusts that he died to pay the penalty of sin which we deserved to pay. Without Jesus Christ, it would be impossible for us to live with God forever.

4)    The Gift of Righteousness. Scripture explains, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17). When anyone puts their faith and trust in Jesus alone, they step into righteousness, which is only available because Jesus died on the cross for each of us. We become righteous, not because of anything we have done, but on what Christ had done.

5)    The Gift of Life. The Bible says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (I Peter 3:7). Marriage is a blending of two lives, and when a man has found a virtuous woman to marry, she becomes a precious gift – the gift of life.

Obviously, these God-gifts originate with God himself. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father [God] of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). We can enjoy these God-given-gifts all year long, but they are particularly precious during the Christmas season. Have you personally received these gifts from God? They are yours for the receiving. Take time to thank God for what he has given you. Do not let Christmas slip by without showing your appreciation to God for the wonderful gifts he has provided for you.

The Wonder of Christmas

Wonder is part of Christmas.  The word “wonder” means “to marvel, to be amazed, or to stand in awe.”  So, what is it about Christmas that causes people to wonder?  Some people wonder at Christmas time because they see such things as: Christmas trees and brightly colored lights. Others have a sense of wonder when they see the snow glistening in the moonlight or hear the snow crunch under their feet as they walk.  Still others tend to wonder when they see beautiful Christmas decorations, hear or sing Christmas carols, or watch a church Christmas program.  These things, enjoyed by most everyone, are all part of the Christmas season.  However, there is something else about Christmas that causes people to wonder.  This wonder is found in the most famous verse in the Bible – John 3:16 – which says, “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.”  Let’s examine the wonder of Christmas from this biblical perspective.

1)      God’s Motive.  The wonder of Christmas begins with God’s motive which is one of love.  Why did God send the Christ-child to be born in a manger?  Why did God speak to the shepherds on the Bethlehem hillside telling them about the Savior’s birth?  Why did the wise men come to worship the newborn king?  God did these things to share His love for us.  The verse begins, “For God so loved the world,” means that He wrapped his love in the person of His one and only son, Jesus, and sent him to “The world” – to all people, including you and me.  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

2)      God’s Method.  The wonder of Christmas continues with God’s method which is the act of giving.  The verse simply says that “He gave.”  At Christmas we give gifts to family members and friends to demonstrate our love for them.  God did the same for us.  He loved us so much that he gave us his son to show his great love for us.  “He [Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree [cross], so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (I Peter 2:24).

3)      God’s Miracle.  The wonder of Christmas is God’s miracle which is explained as eternal life.  When Jesus died on the cross he made it possible for us to have a right relationship with God and experience “eternal life.”  This miracle is available for everyone who “believes in Him.”  Belief in him is needed along with reception of him.  The Bible tells us, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Maybe it is time for you and me to look at Christmas in a new light through this significant bible verse.  Think about it: God’s motive is love, God’s method is giving, and God’s miracle is eternal life.  “He who has the son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life” (I John 5:12). This Christmas wonder can be yours when you believe in Christ and receive him by faith.  Why not make the Christmas wonder part of your celebration this year?

Doubly Free

Independence Day is an annual holiday commemorating the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia.  At the first holiday the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands played.  Although July Fourth was a bit different this year, it is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades, pageants, patriotic speeches, organized firing of guns and cannons, displays of fireworks, and family picnics.

So, what exactly do we celebrate on the Fourth?  Our celebration is one of independence of the United States from Britain.  As a country we are free to govern our own affairs and to act in responsible ways in our society.  Wars and events, like September 11, 2001, remind us that there is a price to be paid for the freedom and independence that we enjoy.  Here are some things that recap from a biblical perspective what we should know about bondage, freedom, and life.  The Bible tells us:

(1)   Everyone is in bondage because of sin.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

(2)   Spiritual freedom is made available to us through Jesus Christ.  He paid a high cost for us when He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins..  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness: by his wounds you have been healed” (I Peter 2:24).

(3)   Through the sacrifice that Jesus made, you and I can participate in spiritual freedom.  St. John puts it this way, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

(4)   By personally receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord we enter a life-sharing union with God and are promised 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).

(5)   Jesus provides a blessed life for us which only comes through Him.  Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).  John goes on to say, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I john 5:12).

Let us be thankful and grateful to God for the freedom and independence that we enjoy as a country.  And may those who by faith, have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, be thankful and grateful to God for the spiritual freedom they have.  With these two freedoms, a person who is a Christian and lives in the United States might say that he or she is doubly free.

A Better Idea

Over the years the Ford Motor Company, which was founded in 1903, has had a succession of slogans to entice people to look at and purchase their products.  In the late 1960s one of the slogans was “Ford has a better idea.”  Ford felt that people were looking for a better idea in transportation, so this slogan would appeal to them.

Although that slogan is not used today, many people are looking for products and services that are new or better.  If there is something new it must be better so that is exactly what they want.  If something can improve their lives they are all for it.  Whatever is new and improved is attractive, so people jump at the idea and want to have it for themselves. Since the latest I-Phone must be better, it becomes a must have.  When new cars roll off the assembly line in the fall people purchase one whether they need one or not. The "better" might turn out to be a new adventure, new excitement, or even a new marriage.

In Boston, a well-known businessman once said to Mark Twain, “Before I die, I plan to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  I will climb Mount Sinai and read the 10 Commandments aloud at the top.”  Twain turned to him and replied, “I have a better idea – why don’t you stay in Boston and keep the commandments.”  There is a huge problem when people constantly look for a better idea or something new.  The problem is that they usually look for it in the wrong place.  People usually look at things which are physical or temporal.  Temporal things just will not last.  Instead, people ought to look for that which is eternal.  Eternal things will endure, will not rust, will not corrode, and will not fade away.  

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul identified a new and a better idea.  He said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (II Corinthians 5:17).  Why is it that he suggests that to be “in Christ” is a better idea?  It is better because when individuals enter a relationship with Christ they become part of a vital life-sharing union.  Franklin Graham once said, “Satisfying our desires cannot fill the spiritual longing in the heart.”  That is why we need a better idea - one that is spiritual.  That is why we need God.  People might say “I do not just want something better, I want something that is the best – the best that money can buy.  They want the better idea because that will set them apart from everyone else, give them satisfaction, and put them on top.

The Apostle John tells us why God is better.  John 3:16 says, “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.”  Even though the Bible tells us that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), God has taken the initiative to provide a wonderful gift for us.  Romans 6:23 tells us this gift is “Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So, God is not only a better idea – but He is the absolute best idea.

Here is a challenge: Turn to God today, believe in Christ, put your trust in Him and receive Him into your life.  John 1:12 says, “To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  Why not participate with God today and take advantage of His better idea? 

Joy During a Pandemic

With the Covid-19 pandemic, sheltering in place, social distancing, sanitizing activity, washing hands, closing of businesses, people out of work, and other things that have placed our country (and the entire world) in crisis, it is hard to think about being joyful.  In order to find joy some people have tried drugs, others have tried drink, some try music, positive thinking, and some just hunker down in anxiety and fear. Some of these things may bring happiness for a period of time, but they all lead to disappointment. The problem is that people are looking for real joy in the wrong places.

It is possible to have joy during difficult circumstances if a person goes to the right source. Even though the Apostle Paul was sitting in a jail cell he and his companion were “praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25). How could he do that?  He also could say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). How could he say that?  During other difficult circumstances, he said, “I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” (II Corinthians 7:4). How could he be so positive and joyful when experiencing difficulties?

What the Apostle Paul learned was to go to God who is the source of  joy. The psalmist helped point this out when he said, “You (God) make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). When we come to God and put our trust in Him, we have found the right source of joy. God gives it to you and me when we have a personal relationship with Him. As a result, the psalmist notes that he was able to “Extol the Lord at all times” (Psalm 34:1). “All times” includes difficulties -- even a pandemic. For real joy God is the right source to whom we should turn.

The Star

There is an object in the Christmas story that we often refer to as the star of the east.  The biblical text says, “After they (the magi) had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (Matthew 2:9-10).  It might be helpful for us to reflect on what a star does.

First, a star brings cheer.  The darker the night, the brighter the star shines.  The darker our night of sin, the brighter God’s redeeming love is to us.  When talking to those whom He forgave, Jesus often encouraged them to be of good cheer or to take heart.
Second, stars are used to provide guidance.  Navigators used the stars to find their way - as did the Magi.
Third, stars have a lasting presence.  They endure from one generation to another.  Who hasn’t seen the big dipper, the little dipper, or the North Star in the sky?

In addition, the words of Scripture tell us that Jesus is: “The Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).  He always shines to brighten the way for everyone to not only see their spiritually lost condition but to help them understand their need of surrendering to God for forgiveness, peace, hope and eternal life.  Christmas is a special time for us to realize that we can personally receive the precious gift of Jesus Christ.  He alone can remove our guilt and the curse of that guilt, which is eternal death.  He alone can give us an unending blissful 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).

Let’s accept this unspeakable gift as our very own and know what it means to have the Bright and Morning Star as our constant guide to cheer our way through the darkness of this world into the light of eternity.

Flowers and Life

Rain in the spring is instrumental in supplying unparalleled beauty for us to enjoy through the lovely plants we call flowers.  There are 20 verses in the Bible (NIV) which speak about flowers with several of these verses connecting flowers to the human lifecycle of birth, life and death.  There are parallels from the life cycle of flowers that give us insights from God’s Word that are applicable for our lives.

Birth.  Flowers spring up, they take on new life, and they begin the process of growth.  The Bible reminds us that, “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).  It is because of God’s love that He brings us into the world.  We are creations of his endowed with tremendous potential and born into the world to start the process of physical growth.

Life.  Words used to explain this part of the cycle indicate that flowers appear, they flourish, they have buds and blossoms, they open, and glory is associated with them.  Flowers are beautiful.  Jesus reminds those with whom he is speaking that, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).  There is more to life than just living.  Jesus offers abundant life and eternal life which is available to us through the person of Jesus Christ.

Death.  We are told that the flower withers, fades, passes away, falls, and blows away.  It begins with a tiny seed that grows and blossoms.  However, it lasts for only a short time until its glory fades.  The Bible says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  Since our time on earth is short we are told, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Essentially, we learn from flowers that life is valuable because God created us.  Life is also meant for living abundantly because God gifted each of us with abilities to make a difference in the lives of other people.  Sometimes we don’t want to (or don’t like to) hear that life is short.  However, that is reality.  Therefore, we ought to thank God for life and be ready to spend eternity with Him.  Are you ready for eternity?  Listen to this, “And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:11-13).

The Gift that Keeps Giving

After December 25th our focus on the Christmas season is over.  Christmas lights are turned off, decorations are put away, Christmas carols no longer fill the air waves, and Christmas cards become a memory of
the past.  However, the opposite is true of the Biblical story of Christmas because God’s gift is continually available to us.  The gift of eternal life that God offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ is just the beginning.  Listen to these verses that reveal that this gift is for us today.

• “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

• “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).
• “But when the kindness and love of God our savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, who he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

Have you personally received the gift that God so graciously offers?  It can be yours.  “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).  Why not continue into the New Year with God’s wonderful gift of Christmas in your heart?