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Author: Anthony Smith Article source: http://forums.ourchurch.com/. Used with author's permission.
Matthew 1:23-1:23 The first Christmas gift was given by God to us, so what do we give Him? Matthew 1: 23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Did Mary really understand, who, she had in her arms, did she understand the implications of these little hands wrapped around hers? Did she know that her child would walk on water, feed thousands with little, did she know that healing of every disease was at his finger tips? Did she know that His wisdom would exceed the Pharisees and the High Priest? Did she understand who she was holding, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, did she know that Jesus was the Great I Am, and the saviour of the World?
Christmas is the favorite time of year for most people. It seems that people come together more at this time of year than any other, they forget about the arguments and the trials and troubles that they have had and start to begin anew. You can walk down most main streets in the country and see the festive colors of lights and trees decorated up with colors of every sort. People bundled up in their fine coats and hats and scarves , all looking for that perfect gift to give a loved one. Walking down the street you can hear the wonderful music that blends in with the holiday spirit, songs like, O little town of Bethlehem, O holy night and others seem to fill the air.
The smell of fine food draws you near the restaurants and you can see all the fine food that has been prepaired with great care. And you decide to sit for a while at a park bench and just take it all in. As you sit and listen, you can hear a quire sing a familiar song, O come all ye faithful, and you start going over a list in you head, of presents that you've gotten so far and you try to remember if you've forgotten someone. Lets see, you got your wife a fine new coat that she's been wanting, the one with the fir trim, and the new bicycles with chrome handel bars for the kids, they'll love them, the mail man a box of candy, your mom and day a new blanket, with tigers on it, the in laws, a fruit basket with their favorite fruits, your boss a pen set and a doggy chew for the dog.
You sit and ponder for a while and start walking again, in a while you see a statue brightly lighten up and you stop and look intently. The statue is of Jesus on a cross and just beyond it you see a manger sean and all of a sudden you realize that you've forgotten someone, someone who gave the first Christmas present, you've forgotten God. You start to think, What in the world do you give God for Christmas, a car, a boat, a pair of gloves, no thats silly, God owns everything. I know that I forgot Him last year and the year before. I know I've not been in church for a while, maybe I can go to church for a while to make up for it and give him a little of my time.
But I've forgotten how to pray, I remember when mom and dad use to take me it seemed easy, all I have to do is ask him for stuff. But , wait, its supposed to be His present, not mine. What do I get God for Christmas? In a little while, I saw the pastor of the church open the door and when he saw me he ask if I needed something. I told him, I was trying to figure out what I could give God for Christmas. Come in and well figure it out, He said. As He explained, God loved us so much that he picked a very special day to give us His present. Something that you didn't have to wrap or lay away, something without ribbons or bows, something that didn't spoil, if you kepted it too long.
He gave us something where we would never grow thirsty or hungry, something that would heal every disease, cancer, lonely-ness and despair. Something that you would never have to fix or replace, something that would never wear out or ever run away from you. He gave us, of Himself, a part of Himself that He loved very much, as you love you own child. It wasn't a something my brother, it was a someone, Jesus Gods only begotten Son. The saviour of the world, the best gift that anyone could ever receive. Jesus paid for your sins on the cross, with his, sweet, blood and his very life. The pain and suffering that he endured was for you, that was his Christmas present to you. And you ask, What do I give God for Christmas?
There's only one answer that I know of, He read from Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good , and acceptable, and perfect , will of God. The best present that you can give God this Christmas, is yourself, and your family, with Love. Can we do that Church, can we give God of ourself this Christmas and not only on Christmas but all thru the year?
Think about it. ars. Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Sermons International
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/
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