As my children get older and closer to all teenagers, I am less likely to wrap gifts before Christmas and tempted to go the easy way to place them in bags. This got me thinking…. the best love gifts I ever received came wrapped!
What defines a gift as “love” is the level of sacrifice from the giver and also the benefits offered to the receiver.
Jesus sacrificed his own power in Heaven to wrap himself in humanity and frailty on the earth. Many babies have become kings, only one King became a baby!
Luke 2:7
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
1. GIFT WRAPPED: The gift of Jesus wrapped in humanity wrapped us with a forever High Priest that can sympathize with our human weaknesses!
When John the Baptist introduced Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Notice he didn’t say “covers” our sin, he said, “takes away”. Hebrews says, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” He removed our sin by wrapping himself in sin and burying it. Remember scriptures say He became human, well He also became sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. GIFT WRAPPED: The sacrificial gift of Jesus wrapped in our sin revealed that He wrapped you in His eternal righteousness!
When Jesus was on the earth, sinners were attracted to Him. Religious leaders couldn’t stand Him because He offered them only more law, that their self-righteousness would only receive. However, He wrapped words of grace to those who were seeking His grace. The story of the Prodigal Son was shared with the sinners around Him needing grace. Near the end of the story, we see a filthy son wrapped in the same robe as His Father.
Isaiah 61:10
10
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
3. GIFT WRAPPED: The sacrificial gift of Jesus wrapped in grave clothes revealed you are wrapped in eternal life and love with Him!
Again I believe the best gifts come wrapped! I encourage everyone to be like little children opening gifts on a Christmas morning. How do you open them you ask? By confession and faith in Jesus! Be aggressive when it comes to good gifts from your Father. Don’t allow religion to quiet your enthusiasm. May the rooms of your soul be filled with laughter, joy and childlike excitement with a good Daddy who loves you!
Making Disciples of Jesus That Receive, Give and Serve in Grace,
http://www.graceforeternity.com
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