The Gift

There are times when the biggest, loudest, most expensive present seems the best. We place a higher value on these three because they are larger than life, bring the most attention, and yield a higher expectation of satisfaction. Maybe that is what the Jews were looking for their Messiah to be; a gift that stood head and shoulders above the rest, boisterous and commanding, and donning a royal purple tapestry robe. That sounds like the ‘real-deal’ right, but God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,”(Isaiah 55:8). With that in mind, only God can give us a perfect Gift in miraculous and unimaginable ways.

Earlier in Isaiah 53:2-3a the Gift is foretold, “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” It is unimaginable that this Gift could be unattractive, undesirable, despised and rejected? Furthermore, the Gift Giver, knowing that on the surface the Gift would not be aesthetically pleasant, still gave the Gift, because the Gift was based on the Gift Giver’s love and sacrifice and not based on the three superficial qualities mentioned in the paragraph above. When the Gift is accepted by faith It offers forgiveness for sins and eternity with God. Man, based on his spiritual condition, could never enter eternity apart from the atonement for sin offered through the Gift of a Savior. So, we thank God for the Gift of Jesus Christ, by all accounts an ordinary fellow, not flashy, not pretentious, but extraordinary in plan (“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground.” Isaiah 53:2); purpose (But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5); and position (It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Romans 8:34)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the miraculous and unimaginable Gift of Jesus Christ. You gave us Your Child, Your only begotten Son, who came to seek and save us who were lost, and now He sits at Your right hand. We praise You God and we thank You, Jesus. We receive You as our Gift, precious, holy, and righteous. Amen.
By Sis. Paula Smith