THE GREATEST GIFT FOR THE MAN IN THE TEMPLE
One of the greatest stories for me is the story of Simeon. He had known, waited and expected Jesus to come. It happened as he had hoped.
Luke 2: 25-33That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen Him – God’s anointed King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the Child in his arms, praising God. ”Lord,” he said, ”now I can die content! For I have seen Him as You promised me I would. I have seen the Saviour You have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and He will be the glory of Your people Israel!” Joseph and Mary just stood there, marveling at what was being said about Jesus.
Here the man who had waited for this for so long was holding the hope of the world in his hands. God wants to give Himself to you today.
THE GREATEST GIFT TO YOU AND ME
The greatest joy is to know Jesus’ love inside our own hearts.
John 3:16-17For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
God gave His only Son. The same gift is being offered to you today. It only remains for you to receive Him. The gift of Jesus is for you and me.” God gave His Son, and it is up to us to receive Him and embrace the life He offers.
GOD WITH US IS GOD’S GIFT TO US
Matthew 1:23‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son. They shall call His Name Emmanuel, which means God with us.’
Jesus came to show us that God is with us. We can know the abiding presence of God in our lives. God has no intention of leaving us or deserting us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Nothing can separate us from His love for us.
Romans 8:35-39 Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because He doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us? … Despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ Who loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are – high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean – nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ.
The gift of Jesus and His love for you is still available to you. As Mariah Carey’s song reflects: ”One Child that saves us, each one of us.”
Conclusion
This Christmas, let us remember the Gift that changed the world. The birth of one Child – Jesus Christ – brought light, hope, and redemption to all humanity. May His love fill your hearts and your homes this season.
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