The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I was asked yesterday, “What is the best gift you ever received for Christmas?”. Without delay, I said the birth of my sons Cason who was born one week before Christmas in 1980 and Jonathan who was born in October. Second would have been the Harley Davidson mini bike my brother and I received in 1974. I could go on but if I were to really think about it, the best gift any Christian has ever received would have to be the birth of the Messiah, Jesus.  

Jesus the Messiah is the what the “Holidays” are all about. If you think about it the Messiah can be linked to Hanukkah or The festival of lights in many ways. Jesus Christ is known as the Light of the World, the one who brings hope and salvation to a dark and desperate people. In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (NIV). Jesus our Lord makes all impossible things very possible. The giving and receiving of Gifts at Christmas is also an indicator of not only the birth of Jesus Christ but His entire life! The wise men from the east brought gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh to present to the baby who was to become the King of the Jews. Even Santa Claus has his beginnings in

I absolutely love all the lights, the hustle and bustle, and the gift-giving because I know that without the celebration of the birth of our Jesus Christ none of the this would be happening. Even as some people choose to say “Happy Holiday” instead of “Merry Christmas” they are still implying something Holy is being celebrated. The Birth of Jesus the Messiah is Holy indeed!! As stated in Hebrews 7:26, Such a high priest truly meets our need, one who is Holy, blameless, Pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (NIV). His name is Jesus the Christ!!

As Jesus Christ lived He was known as a gift giver. He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead to life. In his death, He also gave Himself as a gift, the one and only sacrifice for the redemption of sin. Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God. Since that time Jesus continues to give the gift of redemption and eternal life to anyone who believes in Him as The Messiah. 1 Peter 1:3 states, “Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has Given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (NIV). Choosing to believe that Jesus Christ was born the Son of God, died to save us from eternal suffering and rose again to be seated on the right hand of God the Father is the most important gift anyone could receive. Jesus Christ is definitely the Gift that keeps on Giving.

During these “Holy-Days” let us concentrate on the real “Gift Giver”, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I'm not sure if King Solomon realized the relevance of Proverbs 18:16 when he wrote it, but it states, “A Gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great” (NIV), but it's certainly appropriate. So give those gifts, turn on those lights, laugh, eat too much, and celebrate the birth of the One who's made this all possible, the one who, as Christians, we will spend our eternity with. Jesus Christ our Redeemer the gift that keeps on giving. Please enjoy the Music Video!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holy Days!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes