Monday, December 9, 2024

On the day of his birth, there were no fancy ribbons or bows, no tree adorned with sparkling ornaments. And when the time came, he gave us a present that wasn't wrapped in fancy paper, yet it was the greatest present in the history of man.

John 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

I would venture to say that most everyone has heard this verse at least once, but I never tire of hearing it. With the celebration of Jesus’ birth at hand, I believe this verse deserves a deeper look, so let’s consider the verse that follows it: 

John 3:17
“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” 

For perspective, ask yourself, “Would I sacrifice my only child for the sake of others?" God loves us so much that, even though we deserve his judgment, he saved us through his only son to avoid it. 

God is love, and Jesus is God in the flesh. Therefore, Jesus, too, is love. His unconditional love, grace, and mercy—evidenced by the sacrifice he made to reconcile us to God—is a gift without comparison. The ultimate gift! 

I once had someone ask why I was wearing a cross. To him, it symbolized a tortured, dead man, but perception is key. I told him when I look at a cross, I don’t see a symbol of torture, I see a symbol of love. I see what Jesus has done for me, and I am reminded of the promise of his resurrection. 

God's love is his present to us—his presence is our present.

And as if that’s not enough, his love comes with the forgiveness of our sins and the sanctification of our hearts and souls. He chose to come to earth as a helpless baby, and he left earth having helped everyone who would choose him. 

If there is one letter, dot, or symbol wrong on an email address, it won’t reach its intended recipient, so why would we think there are endless ways to heaven? Jesus is God's plan—his only plan—for the salvation of anyone who accepts his gift. 

Happy Birthday, Jesus! I can't wait to run into your arms and thank you face-to-face. 

Questions:
For many, Christmas has become a secular holiday. How will you celebrate the birth of Jesus this year in a way that ignites a passion for him in your heart and soul? 

Prayer:  
Father God, simply saying “thank you” does not feel sufficient for the amount of gratitude I feel toward you. And so I ask you, in order for me to exhibit my love for you, show me what I need to say and do to honor you every day as I live by faith, through the grace you’ve given me. And, in the meantime, as I await your call to bring me home, help me to show you how much I love you in my actions, words and deeds. Maranatha! I pray in Jesus’ most holy name, amen. 

This post was written by Linda Repka, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut.