The Christmas season is associated with giving gifts. There is something inherently good and noble about the act of giving - especially giving to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Giving however only has value if the gift is received. No doubt thousands of Christmas gifts will be traded in or forgotten about or re packaged to pass on to somebody else. Put simply, many gifts will not be received in the way that the giver originally intended.
The gift of God, His Son, was given for humanity to receive. John 1:11-12 says, "He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But to as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..." The value of the gift is only realised when the gift is received. The gift of God needs to be unwrapped. Only when it is unwrapped will we realise its immense value. John 1:16 says "And of His fullness we have all received and grace for grace." This gift contains the fullness of God Himself. The fullness of God is expressed and appreciated because of the grace of God. His fullness is equated to His grace. Grace is unmerited favour. This gift of God is the very essence of His favour toward broken people.
This gift, His Son, is freely given to us. It costs us nothing but it cost Father God everything. This gift has been fully paid for. It cannot be earned or merited through human effort or human goodness. The 'santa' clause doesn't apply to the gift of God. The 'santa' clause says that you only receive a gift if you have been good. This clause relating to human goodness has been removed so that all people can receive heaven's gift. In other words the giver doesn't demand or even expect that the receiver has been 'good'. The truth is that "all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23) but God has met His own conditions pertaining to His holiness and His righteousness by imputing righteousness to all who receive the Son. "For He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him".(2 Cor.5:21) When we unwrap heaven's gift we will discover that we actually receive right standing before God Himself !
The more we unwrap the gift of heaven, the more we will discover His mercy, His grace, His love, His kindness, His forbearance, His truth, His forgiveness, His intimacy, His friendship, His Presence, His faithfulness, His promises, His life and His Spirit. All of this and more is in the Son. He is heaven's gift for us. All we have to do is receive Him. You can Him now by asking Jesus Christ into your life - to be your Lord and Saviour. Here is a prayer that you can say: "Dear Jesus, I believe that you took all of my sin - past, present and future - upon yourself. Thank you for giving me your righteousness in exchange for my unrighteousness. I receive you as my Lord and Saviour. I believe that I am now empowered to live by your grace. Help me by your Holy spirit to make a difference in my world and to pass forward your grace to others. Amen"
This blog is adapted from a message called 'Unwrapping the gift' spoken by Pastor Ross Smith at The Vine church, Logan City, Queensland ,Australia on 21/12/14. The full message can be accessed by podcast www.thevine.org.au/teaching
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