“The Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

 During the Christmas holidays, our thoughts turn to thoughts of Bethlehem, the nativity scene, shepherds and angels. Have you ever stopped to think about what it would be like if God had NOT given Jesus as a gift to you and the world? There would be No Christmas, No Savior, No Church, No hope, No carols, No Bible and we would have No church family. Most of us would not know each other! It’s a wonderful life to be a Christian! But, what if God looked at what was going to happen to His Son and decided not to send Him after all??!! There would be no Christmas story!

You cannot tell the value of a gift by the kind of wrapping paper it comes in. Think about the way God chose to send His Son Jesus into the world. He could have come with a lot of excitement as the King of Kings! But it was not announced to the big and powerful people of the world. He didn’t come into a rich family in a comfortable home! He came as a baby, into a poor family and born in a smelly stable.

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:2. Because He didn’t come in the wrapping that some people wanted, they decided not to open the gift! They despised and rejected Him. Those who truly saw Him…who bothered to open the gift……were never the same! We can only see the value and who He really is if we have faith!

Mary Magdalene said: “I have seen the Lord!”

Thomas said: “My Lord and my God!”

Peter said: “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty!”

John said: “We have seen His glory!”

Paul said: “Lord, what would you have me to do?”

Think about the location and the timing of His coming! Why did God pick Bethlehem? Why not Jerusalem or Rome, important cities? Because it was foretold many years before! “Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me, One who will be ruler over Israel.” Micah 5:2. God sent Jesus at just the right time. Rome ruled over the people of Israel, they ordered a census to be taken of all the people in their kingdom. God had to move the world to get Jesus to the right city, the city of David. Things were desperate in Israel, only a few were still looking for the Messiah. There were a few righteous people like Simeon and Anna who were praying for the redemption of Jerusalem, (Luke 2:38). But, most people in Bethlehem didn’t even notice Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. The merchants were too busy buying and selling. The townspeople weren’t looking for Jesus to come right then. They would have scoffed at the idea that the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenage girl in their very village. Do you think the inn keeper thought he sent God into the cold stable? Nothing much has changed in 2000 years! Only people looking for Him find Him. Are you looking? “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13