LOVE CAME GIFTWRAPPED

Freelance writer Lupie Riley

Thought:  Through all the hustle and bustle of the season is there something that gets lost in the true meaning of CHRISTmas?  Could it be the most important event in human history?  This baby that had his humble beginnings, born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, in a little town called Bethlehem, changed even time itself.  He was born to die.  How can that be?  Let’s look at some of the titles the prophet Isaiah gave him hundreds of years before he was even born.  Isaiah 9:6,7 LB “For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder.  These will be his royal titles: “WONDERFUL,” “COUNSELOR,” “THE MIGHTY GOD,” “THE EVERLASTING FATHER,” “THE PRINCE OF PEACE.”  His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end.” These were powerful words spoken by the prophet over a child that had not yet been born.  He was to come into the world as Royalty.

When Jesus was born that Christmas Eve He was identified as: John 1:1-4 KJ “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”   Colossians 1:15,16 “Christ is the exact likeness of the unseen God.  He existed before God made anything at all, and, in fact Christ himself is the CREATOR who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see, and the things we can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory.”

We have identified who Christ is but why did he have to die an abhorring death on the cross? Most of us are familiar with John 3:16, for God so loved the world.  His love for mankind is immeasurable.  I John 4:16 KJ “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

We have come to the conclusion through scripture that God became flesh in the body of Christ. I John 5:20 LB “And we know that Christ, God’s Son, has come to help us and find the true God.  And now we are in God because we are in Jesus Christ his Son, who is the only true God; and He is eternal life.”  I Tim. 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Jesus was the pure lamb that was sacrificed for the sins of mankind.  We can now be forgiven, through faith in Christ and have eternal life with Him in heaven.  There are many religions out there that deny His deity and they are called anti-Christ, against what God ordained.

So, we come to the truth of God’s word, the magnificence of that Christmas day when God entered the mainstream of humanity and in dying he provided a way out to those who were enslaved by sin.  The free gift of forgiveness and eternal life is available to anyone who by faith invites Christ into their life.  A gift that is priceless.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

Prayer:  Father God, I accept your gift of forgiveness and eternal life through Christ, my Savior, Lord, and coming King. Amen

Verse: John 1:12,13 “But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God.  All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.  All those who believe this are reborn! —not of a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God.”

Married 58 years, four children, nine grandchildren and three greats.  I've been a freelance writer for over 40 years.  Working on a book at the present.  My priorities are God first, family, country. Look me up on Google search by my name Lupie Riley, click on first link. Faithwriters.com