Our Daily Bread Christmas Edition: For God So LovedSample

A Promised Gift A woman hurriedly purchased 50 Christmas cards without looking at the message inside. She quickly signed and addressed all but one and then dropped them in a mailbox. Just imagine her dismay when later she glanced inside the one unmailed card and read these words: This card is just to say, a little gift is on the way. No doubt there were 49 people wondering what happened to their presents. How different was God’s promise to us! Many years before the Savior was born, the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)" (Isa. 7:14). And in verse 6 of chapter 9 we read, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us." Did God keep His word? Indeed He did! Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman."As we commemorate the birth of Christ, let’s thank God that He meant what He said. He not only promised, but He also gave. "Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!" (2 Cor. 9:15). —Richard DeHaan Jesus Himself is the greatest Christmas gift ever given.