The Greatest of Gifts :: By Holly Spate
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)
As you prepare for this beautiful time of year we call Christmas, take a moment to slow your steps. Put your “to do” list aside, give yourself the gift of pause, and find a quiet corner to reflect. Let your mind and heart be present as you take the time to stop and remember the true reason for this glorious season… the greatest story ever told, the greatest gift ever given.
A gift that came to earth over 2,000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem. A gift that came on what seemed to be another ordinary night in an ordinary town but turned into a night of miracles in a town that would forever be remembered as the birthplace of the greatest gift.
A gift given freely from the Creator himself, wrapped in the beauty of unconditional love, grace and mercy. More valuable, more beautiful, more amazing than any ever given or ever received in all of time. A gift like no other… so miraculously wonderful.
No gift has ever been more meaningful or more impactful. None has ever been more precious or perfect.
This present came to humanity at the perfect time… not a second too early or a second too late. Heaven reached down, and God so lovingly presented His answer of rescue to fix a fallen, broken world.
From the beginning of time, this was His plan. He knew when it would happen and fashioned every detail. He set the backdrop and chose the little town of Bethlehem to present his gift to the world. He placed the star in the sky that shined brilliant and bright and sent his angels to triumphantly announce the birth of his Son, our Savior. He made sure the shepherds tending the sheep heard the announcement that the King had come so they could go and worship in awe and wonder. He chose a humble manger for the King to rest his head. Not a detail was missed… not one. Everything went according to plan. All designed by a loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-wonderful heavenly Father.
It must have been amazing… beyond words to have witnessed that spectacular event. How blessed hearts must have been to be in Bethlehem that night. And what God must have thought and felt when watching it all unfold. How he must have smiled.
An event like no other before or since had come to mankind. God’s Son came to earth, presented as a beautiful baby, born in a stable, placed in a manger beside his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, whom God selected for such a time as this.
And while watching His precious little Son, God knew what the future held. He knew what had to be done. He knew the sacrifice that would have to be made. His precious Son… his one and only Son, would have to endure an excruciatingly painful death on a cross to pay a debt he did not owe because of a price humanity could not pay. His life would be given so lives could be saved. His blood would be shed so rivers of forgiveness could wash sins white as snow. He would have to be beaten, his body broken and given, so a bridge could be built. All planned before the beginning of time… a rescue mission to save humanity.
His presence became the greatest present ever given… the greatest gift ever received.
From the very beginning, a plan was put in place. And in that very moment… during that very night, God said, “It is time.” With unconditional love, He sent His Son to give hope, to show the way, to bring salvation and life… all to provide a bridge back to the Father.
It is the only gift able to reach past the external and touch the internal. It creates miracles, opens hearts, transforms minds, and changes lives. It cleanses, rescues, forgives, loves, offers hope, and provides peace. It is the only gift able to save and bring an eternity bright. It came packaged with the greatest of care and came wrapped with the purest of love.
It was all a part of God’s great plan to save His creation. He did it for YOU. He did it for me. He did it for all of us.
Amazing!
As you celebrate this Christmas, take to heart, as Mary did, all that God has done. Rejoice in the birth of the Savior! Make the focus of your season, the very heart of your celebration, about Jesus. Cherish all He gave. Appreciate all He continually gives. Make it your mission to keep Him close to your heart this Christmas and every day of every year.
Jesus is the reason for the season. He is the reason we celebrate.
Share His love and His story.
He truly is the greatest of gifts.
Praying God blesses each of you in many beautiful ways this holiday season. Sharing a video I recently created… hope you enjoy it. https://youtu.be/UkO87qso2Xw
Merry CHRISTmas to you all!
Holly
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