The Christmas Gift That Keeps on Giving!
Have you ever given a gift to someone who you knew did not deserve it? When you gave it to them, did they show their appreciation or did they take your gift and set it aside and continue to treat you the same way? How should the giver react to the recipient? Retract the gift in anger? That would be the natural reaction.
Well, I know of One who gave a gift during a major time of rejection and who still continues to give unto this day.
I'm sure everyone has heard the story of Jesus dying on the cross for the whole world.
Yet, I challenge you to let those words resonate in your heart and mind.
The details surrounding Christ's death seem to be rarely discussed.
Think about it, prior to the crucifixion, Jesus was struck and spat upon by an angry mob.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Jerusalem ordered him scourged for his "crimes.
" Scourging was a Roman practice used to inflict severe bodily punishment.
A scourge consisted of a handle with a dozen leather cords with jagged pieces of bone or metal at each end to make the blow more painful and effective.
The victim was tied to a post and the blows were applied to the bare back, loins and sometimes to the face and bowels.
The flesh was cut into several places by each blow.
So hideous was the punishment that victims often fainted and some even died from it.
If the scourge used on Jesus had 12 throngs and He was hit 39 times as according to the Bible, this would make 468 bloody stripes on His body (Dakes Annotated Reference Bible).
Can you imagine being in excruciating pain knowing that you had the ability to stop it in a blink of an eye? What kept Him from not giving up and voluntarily laying down His life for mankind? It was LOVE.
It was Christ's love for you.
For God saw the ultimate plight of His creation and decided to allow His only begotten Son to step into time and sacrifice Himself for you.
As my grandmother, Linnie Mae, has told me, "It was predestinated before the foundation of the Earth that God would send us a Savior.
When Jesus came, He brought grace and truth.
Mankind is saved by His grace.
Grace is an unmerited favor-we are not good enough, and can't earn it.
It's a favor from God.
Jesus bore our sin, He carried our sins, and He died in our place.
He has paid for our sins.
When Adam sinned he caused sin upon every nation.
Someone had to save us.
God, himself prepared a body.
He gave himself a name above all other names.
He came to save those that are lost.
He rose for our justification, shed his innocent blood to pay for our sins.
Jesus died that we might live.
" Salvation through Jesus Christ can take but an instant, but not accepting His gift can have eternal ramifications.
We all have probably wondered, "What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? What is the real meaning of my life?" When faced with those questions it may mean that you are spiritually lost.
Jesus came to save those who are lost and to bring hope to their lives.
His love automatically propels us and draws us towards Him.
Skeptics may disagree, but words can not describe how a rendezvous with Christ feels once it takes place.
The joy and peace are unspeakable.
Once you form a personal relationship with Christ, it's simply amazing and better than any drug.
He loves you more than you love yourself.
For His Word tells us how much He loves us.
God is no respecter of persons, no matter what you have done, He still loves you.
For God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11 NIV) For He knows the number of hairs on our head.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
(Matt 10:30.
) He knew us before we were born.
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.
(Jeremiah 1:5 NIV) He wants you to come to Him and let Him carry your problems.
"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
" (Matt 11:30) He cares so that you may enjoy your life in abundance.
Jesus said, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.
(John 10:10 NIV) The Lord knows how fickle and emotional we are which is why God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.
I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not! (Hebrews 13:5 AMP) He will NOT leave us nor forsake us.
Who do you know that can make such a promise to you? NO ONE.
Every season Christians celebrate the birth of a man named Jesus Christ.
A man who was savagely murdered, beaten within an inch of his life, who carried His cross to Calvary to pay a price on behalf of you and me.
Romans 10:9 explains that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
What do you have to lose, if to believe, you stand to gain everything? This year as the celebration of Christ's birthday takes place, don't make a mistake by not accepting His priceless gift of salvation.
Well, I know of One who gave a gift during a major time of rejection and who still continues to give unto this day.
I'm sure everyone has heard the story of Jesus dying on the cross for the whole world.
Yet, I challenge you to let those words resonate in your heart and mind.
The details surrounding Christ's death seem to be rarely discussed.
Think about it, prior to the crucifixion, Jesus was struck and spat upon by an angry mob.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Jerusalem ordered him scourged for his "crimes.
" Scourging was a Roman practice used to inflict severe bodily punishment.
A scourge consisted of a handle with a dozen leather cords with jagged pieces of bone or metal at each end to make the blow more painful and effective.
The victim was tied to a post and the blows were applied to the bare back, loins and sometimes to the face and bowels.
The flesh was cut into several places by each blow.
So hideous was the punishment that victims often fainted and some even died from it.
If the scourge used on Jesus had 12 throngs and He was hit 39 times as according to the Bible, this would make 468 bloody stripes on His body (Dakes Annotated Reference Bible).
Can you imagine being in excruciating pain knowing that you had the ability to stop it in a blink of an eye? What kept Him from not giving up and voluntarily laying down His life for mankind? It was LOVE.
It was Christ's love for you.
For God saw the ultimate plight of His creation and decided to allow His only begotten Son to step into time and sacrifice Himself for you.
As my grandmother, Linnie Mae, has told me, "It was predestinated before the foundation of the Earth that God would send us a Savior.
When Jesus came, He brought grace and truth.
Mankind is saved by His grace.
Grace is an unmerited favor-we are not good enough, and can't earn it.
It's a favor from God.
Jesus bore our sin, He carried our sins, and He died in our place.
He has paid for our sins.
When Adam sinned he caused sin upon every nation.
Someone had to save us.
God, himself prepared a body.
He gave himself a name above all other names.
He came to save those that are lost.
He rose for our justification, shed his innocent blood to pay for our sins.
Jesus died that we might live.
" Salvation through Jesus Christ can take but an instant, but not accepting His gift can have eternal ramifications.
We all have probably wondered, "What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? What is the real meaning of my life?" When faced with those questions it may mean that you are spiritually lost.
Jesus came to save those who are lost and to bring hope to their lives.
His love automatically propels us and draws us towards Him.
Skeptics may disagree, but words can not describe how a rendezvous with Christ feels once it takes place.
The joy and peace are unspeakable.
Once you form a personal relationship with Christ, it's simply amazing and better than any drug.
He loves you more than you love yourself.
For His Word tells us how much He loves us.
God is no respecter of persons, no matter what you have done, He still loves you.
For God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11 NIV) For He knows the number of hairs on our head.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
(Matt 10:30.
) He knew us before we were born.
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.
(Jeremiah 1:5 NIV) He wants you to come to Him and let Him carry your problems.
"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
" (Matt 11:30) He cares so that you may enjoy your life in abundance.
Jesus said, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.
(John 10:10 NIV) The Lord knows how fickle and emotional we are which is why God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.
I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not! (Hebrews 13:5 AMP) He will NOT leave us nor forsake us.
Who do you know that can make such a promise to you? NO ONE.
Every season Christians celebrate the birth of a man named Jesus Christ.
A man who was savagely murdered, beaten within an inch of his life, who carried His cross to Calvary to pay a price on behalf of you and me.
Romans 10:9 explains that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
What do you have to lose, if to believe, you stand to gain everything? This year as the celebration of Christ's birthday takes place, don't make a mistake by not accepting His priceless gift of salvation.
