The Gift
SCRIPTURE: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Isaiah 53:1
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
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
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
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March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
2 Comments
Amen! Thank God for thee Gift of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!
Amen! A gift that actually does stand above others but some miss it because it doesn't have the Big 3.