Saturday, November 25, 2006

Greatest Gift


Merry Christmas! That's what we'll all soon be hearing from loveones, friends, acquantances, neighbors, colleagues, bosses, etc. We all love to hear those words. They just bring some tingling in our ears, some warmth in our hearts and reminds us of the gifts it brings. Oh yes, who can ever forget staying up late on the 24th of December or waking up early the next morning to see what Santa has dropped through the chimney.


Gifts have come in many sizes and lengths, as well as, wrapped in so many different ways in the brightest colors anyone can imagine. Those gifts were expressions of love from someone. Some, as costly as anyone can imagine, while others as simple as possible. For, "it is not the gift that counts," they say, "but the thought of it." Somehow, we all have recieved a gift in Christmas. Some of them, we have cherished so much, they still are stocked somewhere or probably visible to everyone. Others, we probably have forgotten all about it altogether.


But, there is one gift. The greatest gift ever given to any human being. A priceless gift all the money in the world could never buy. A gift that didn't have a costly box nor expensive wrapper. Neither did it have a ribbon attached to it. It wasn't even purchased from no Shopping Mall. This gift wasn't laid under a Christmas Tree. Neither was it brought in through the chimney. In fact, this gift wasn't brought into a home. Yet, it was the most precious gift. So delicate, it had to be handled carefully.


This greatest gift was laid in a manger. It was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It was the "son" of a carpenter who was espoused to an ordinary woman but found to be with child even before they were married. This gift made the angels of heaven herald its coming. In fact, a chorus of angels made the first carols ever. It had shepherds from a nearby hillside coming along searching for "that which was told them." This gift moved a jealous King in ordering the massacre of countless innocent infants from ages 1 day to 2 years old.


This gift has touch the lives of many. This gift has brought healing to the sick, made the lame to walk and the blind to see. This gift has brought even life to the dead. Space is not enough to say more about this gift. Anyone can see for himself how great this gift is indeed. It is the greatest gift I have ever received in my life. It will be the greatest gift you will ever receive.


This gift is in the person of JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the Living God. Ask him to come into your life and things will never be the same again.