Light of the WorldSýnishorn

Think back to Christmas morning as a child and try to remember how you may have felt about the gift that you knew would be under the tree. Maybe you felt a fullness of joy and eager anticipation knowing for sure that whatever it was, it was going to be good.

In the final moments before the birth of Jesus, all of Creation must have felt this incredible anticipation. God’s great plan for the redemption of His people had finally come near. A gift of goodness beyond measure was about to be given.

As amazing and unbelievable as this gift is, the story of Christ’s birth is taught to so many of us at such a young age that it can be easy for us to overlook the significance it holds for our everyday lives.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” | John 3:16-17 (NIV)

The Creator entered into created form to stand in the gap for us. He counted us as worthy, when we could never have be worthy on our own. He gifted us access to the life that is truly life in Him. This is also not just a gift that was given once a long time ago. It is a gift that is given in every moment of every day that we live and are willing to accept it.

Question:
Does the magnitude of the gift you have been given in Christ permeate the reality of your daily life?

Application:
Read through the Christmas story again. Read slowly and keep your mind on the reality of what it means in light of John 3:16-17. Express your thankfulness to God in prayer.