So its Christmas. You might have noticed.
The time for presents, the time for family, the time for parties, snow and turkey.
Also, it happens to be when a man called Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Israel about 2000 years ago. Just in case you forgot.
Now when we celebrate it may be due to a traditional winter festival which Christmas has 'taken over' but to be honest, it could be in the summer for all it matters. What Christmas is about is not the tree. Not the presents. Not the decorations. Not the meal. Not the snow.
Its about Jesus.
It shocks me the number of people who don't know why we give gifts at Christmas. They think its all just a tradition and don't look at the reasons.
Its because Jesus was a gift.
God's gift to us. Without Him, no salvation. No way to forgiveness, no route to God.
But you know what the amazing thing is for me?
God is outside of time. He made time. He made us, and He knows us better than anyone. When He made the human race,, He did so knowing that we would give in to temptation, that we would sin. He knew the only way to bring us back into that perfect relationship was through a perfect sacrifice.
Its God's nature to be loving and merciful. He would have known what was going to happen. What He would have to do.
To have that relationship back, He'd have to send His only Son to come and die.
In the mystery of the trinity, where God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Jesus as part of this would have known before creation what He would have to do, how He would have to humble Himself, how He would have to suffer.
Yet God still made us.
He gave us the gift of our lives, then gave an even bigger gift in Jesus to save us.
Jesus gave the biggest gift. Himself. For us. Totally undeserved grace and mercy.
Forgiveness. Salvation. Peace. Healing. Restoration. New life. For everyone who accepts it.
That's the best and most long-lasting Christmas present you'll ever get.
