So, it's Christmas time and people are in the hustle and bustle of giving gifts. We are busy with the many lists for family and friends and trying to find the "perfect" gift for those we love most. I have been reminded continually in the past few weeks that the greatest gift that we have ever been given is the gift of grace. This gift has been given in many different forms to all people in the world...this gift is the Good News that Immanuel has been born!
Immanuel means "God with us" and God IS with us IF we are followers of Jesus. The Christmas season is often seen as one of "free" gifts and children and adults often respond to gifts in different ways. Some are excited about it and grateful for anything they get and some are ungrateful and offended. The Good News of this Christmas is that God sent Jesus as a gift. He sent His Son to forgive sins and to heal brokenness.
I was reading in Matthew chapter 9:1-8 this morning and was impacted by the words of Christ as he told a paralytic "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." But there were some self-righteous religious people there thinking to themselves that it was blasphemous for Jesus to forgive this man's sins. Jesus knew their thoughts and asked them this question, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?" Isn't that a tough question for anyone to answer? Ask yourself that question...why do I think evil in my heart? Isn't it strange to think about that? Jesus then tells the paralytic man that he is healed and he can get up and go home...AND he does! How amazing is that? But in reality what is more amazing, a mans sins forgiven or that a paralytic can walk?
The response of the people was one of fear and glory to God. Verse 8 says "they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." What an amazing thing that they missed...Jesus was Immanuel, God with us! We can really miss who Jesus is during Christmas. We can focus on the play at church, the gifts under the tree, or even the fun times with family and friends. We can get caught up in what we get or don't get. We can even thank God for all the gifts and people he has put in our lives. We can be so focused on this material world that we forget that we have Jesus! Let us remember that "though He was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor that by His poverty we might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). That Jesus "being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him," (Heb. 5:9)...that God gave us the greatest gift, grace through faith "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." (Eph. 2:8)
May you all have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your family, friends, and gifts BUT most importantly remember the greatest gift of all and glorify God for it: Jesus was born, He lived, He died, He rose again, and now He sits at the right hand of God!
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