Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Too Wonderful for Words
Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! (2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT)
Something that people often overlook when they think about the birth of Jesus is that the beautiful Child born in Bethlehem and placed in a manger was born to die. It’s hard for us to think about the fact that those soft baby hands would one day grow into the hands of a strong Man with spikes driven through them.
It’s hard for us to think about the fact that the little feet of the baby Jesus would one day be nailed to a cross of wood, and the little forehead of the Babe in the manger, so loved by His mother, would one day be crowned with thorns.
But know this: He came with a purpose. He didn’t come to this earth simply to show us how to live a good life and give us the greatest teachings that humanity has ever heard. Nor did He come merely to perform miracles and show us the truth about life. Jesus Christ did that and more. Yet He was born in Bethlehem with the express purpose of going to a cross and dying.
From the moment He arrived on Planet Earth, Jesus Christ lived in the shadow of the cross. He was born to die so that we might live.
The wise men had insight into His purpose when they brought the unusual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They gave Him gold because the Child would be a King. They gave Him frankincense because they recognized that He would be our High Priest representing us to God. And they brought Him myrrh, which is used for embalming.
They recognized the King, the High Priest, would die for our sins. And He would give us the ultimate gift, which the Bible calls a “gift too wonderful for words” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT). Or, as the New King James Version renders it, “His indescribable gift.”
Have you ever received an indescribable gift? Probably not. You might be able to describe an unusual gift, or perhaps you saw it somewhere before. But this gift from God is indescribable. It is inexpressible. And it is eternal.
Let’s say that someone hands you a beautifully wrapped box and says, “Merry Christmas!” So, you reach out and take the gift, and then they say, “That will be $29.95.”
That isn’t a gift. That’s a sale.
However, God has offered us a gift, no strings attached. Although it is free to us, it was bought with the blood of Christ. It’s the gift of eternal life.
So, what do we need to do? We need to reach out and take the gift, receive it, enjoy it, and use it. God is offering us the forgiveness of all our sin. Don’t miss that. God is offering us the removal of our guilt.
If you’ve never asked Christ to come into your life, if you’ve never asked Him to forgive your sins, if you’ve tried to find fulfillment in things, relationships, or even in Christmas itself and always come up short, then it’s time to come to the God whom Christmas is all about.
Copyright © 2023 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
Grief is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Pastor Greg Laurie experienced this truth when his son Christopher passed away suddenly. Discover comfort and healing in times of pain as you read his book Hope for Hurting Hearts. Receive your copy as our gift for your donation of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.
