God’s Gift to You
Have you received Jesus, God’s gift to you? If not, consider how you would feel if you gave your best gift ever to someone you love. But they refused to receive it, and it remained unopened. So can you understand how God must feel? The years come and go, yet God’s gift to humanity remains unappreciated and unopened by so many. Now, you may ask, “What is this gift from God?”
Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, but instead of the punishment they deserved, God revealed His amazing love and mercy. He promised a Messiah, a Savior, who would be His most precious gift to humanity. God then revealed the signs of Messiah’s coming through the prophets so people would recognize Him when He came.
Isaiah’s Prophecy of God’s Gift
The prophet Isaiah described God’s gift of the Messiah 700 years before He arrived, but only those who believed waited and watched for Him.
For to us
A child is born
To us a son is given
And the government will be on His shoulders
And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6
Reread the biblical description of the Messiah, and you will agree that this would be no ordinary gift from God! Subsequently, at precisely the right time in history, God’s gift to mankind was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. And God revealed the name of the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
JESUS
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23
Jesus is God’s Gift of Love to the World
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the Town of David
A Savior has been born to you
He is Christ the Lord”
Luke 2:10-11
Finally, the long wait for God’s Messiah to come was over. Jesus willingly left heaven to be clothed in the flesh of a baby and was born, not in a palace, but in a lowly stable. Subsequently, wise men from the East came to worship the divine King of the Jews. And because Jesus came, He fulfilled God’s plan of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.
God confirmed that Jesus was His Son at His baptism.
God the Father said,
“This is My Son, whom I Love
Listen to Him!”
Mark 9:7
God’s Miraculous Gift of Himself
Jesus was thirty years old when He began His public ministry, and those who wondered if Jesus was God’s promised gift of the Messiah listened to His words and believed in Him. Moreover, to further prove His divinity, Jesus healed people, forgave sins, and even raised people from the dead!
Undoubtedly, Jesus was no ordinary man, so people were amazed and marveled at God’s gift. And no wonder! They saw and heard Jesus, God in the flesh. Indeed, what a miraculous gift of Himself God gave to the world.
Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:6-7, 9
Jesus told a woman who had not yet received Him,
“If you knew the gift of God
And who it is that asks you for a drink
You would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water”
John 4:10
On another occasion, Jesus stated why he came to earth.
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32
God promises forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe and receive God’s gift of His Son, Jesus. So, make today your day of salvation by repenting of your sins and asking God to save you because you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again.
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13
God’s Gift was Rejected
Many people received God’s gift and welcomed Jesus as their Messiah and deliverer from sin. But sadly, the majority, including religious leaders, rejected God’s gift, and they even hated Jesus for no reason. So then, one horrible, evil day, the people Jesus came to save finally crushed God’s beautiful gift. And with the struggle of life still within Him, and with a heart of love so impossible to understand…
Jesus asked the Father to
“Forgive them”
And in response
They divided up His clothes by casting lots
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him
Luke 23:34-35
God’s Gift, Jesus, Died to Save You
There were two criminals, sinners like us, crucified with Jesus that day, and they illustrate the two responses to Jesus: Belief and unbelief. One of the criminals hurled insults at Jesus and mocked Him, but the other criminal rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God?” We are getting what our deeds deserve, so we are punished justly. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then, the criminal who believed asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom.
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:43, 46
Jesus
Allowed Himself
To be Killed
By those He created
Pause and reflect on these words, and then read God’s Word below.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3, 14
Jesus, God’s Gift to you, Rose from the Grave
When Jesus died, many grieved and lost hope because they knew there would never be another gift like this again. But then,…Jesus,… God’s gift to mankind, was miraculously restored.
But God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. Acts 2:24
After His death and resurrection, Jesus first appeared to His disciples, and they worshiped Him. Later, Jesus told them He was returning to His Father in heaven. However, before Jesus left, He promised to send His disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. And He would dwell within them always and remind them of what Jesus had told them while living on earth.
Today, believers have the Word of God written in the Bible and the Holy Spirit to empower and guide them. How important to you, then, is reading and studying God’s Word? Indeed, knowing what God says is essential because Jesus lives and reigns in the hearts of all who believe in Him and obey His Word. Best of all, those who walk by faith receive the peace and goodwill to men that God promised.
Jesus Christ Promises to Return
May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:13
Just like those who waited long ago for Jesus, believers in every generation now watch for His promised return. And once again, God has given us signs to look for in the Bible. Do you know the signs so you will be ready?
Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” So, you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Matthew 24:42, 44
Jesus is God’s Gift of Eternal Life
Jesus’ sacrificial gift of love deserves a response. So, make this the most memorable Christmas you have ever known. First, repent, which means to admit to God that you have sinned against Him. Then, tell God you want to receive His gift, Jesus Christ, as your personal Savior from sin.
Jesus said, “I tell you that there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7
When you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your heavenly Father forgives all your sins and welcomes you into the warm embrace of a personal relationship with Him that will never end!
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 6:23
This Christmas, and always, thank God for His indescribable gift to you: Jesus Christ.
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my King, would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
In all I do, I honor You
If you received Jesus as your Savior or have questions, contact me. And consider sharing “God’s Gift to You” with someone you want to bless this Christmas.
I would appreciate your comments.
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Bible study for “God’s Gift to You”
Week 1: Psalm 51:1-10; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 53:4-12; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-2; 3:16-17; 9:1-8; 16:13-17; 24:3-44; 25:13, 31; 26:31-32, 62-64; 28:5-10, 16-20; Mark 1:14-15; 9:2-7; Luke 2:8-21, 25-40
Week 2: Luke 3:21-23; 4:14-21, 38-44; 5:31-32; 15:7; 17:24-30; 21:7-31; 23:32-47; 24:44-47; John 1:1-5, 10-14, 18; 3:3-6, 13-18; 4:9-14, 23-26; 6:35-40; 7:37-39; 10:11, 14-15, 17-18, 22-30; 11:25-27, 38-45
Week 3: John 14:6-12, 23-31; 17:1-5, 24-26; 19:17-24; 20:24-31; Acts 1:1-11; 2:21-24, 36-39; 4:12; Romans 3:21-31; 4:1-8; 5:1, 6-12, 16; 6:23; 8:1-2, 9, 16; 10:8-13; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:3-8, 12-20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17, 20-21
Week 4: Ephesians 2:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11, 23-24; Hebrews 2:14-18; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 1:1-8, 17-18; 17:14; 22:7, 12-13, 17, 20-21
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