Oh, how precious is the Gift

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

When you are planning to give a gift to someone, you usually think about it ahead of time. What would this person really want? Then, of course, you start searching for it and saving for it.

It is not something you do at the last minute. If you haven't planned ahead to get a gift for your family yet, you are a poor giver.

Maybe you are planning on finding a shopping mall that is open until the last minute. Maybe you have been working really hard and you haven't had time.

But I think if you really love someone, then you will take the time to select a gift for them in advance.

This gift God gave to us was not an after- thought. Long before there was a stable in Bethlehem, long before there was a garden called Eden, long before there was a planet called Earth, a decision was made in the counsels of eternity.

God decided to send His Son to save us from our sins. God knew that Adam would fall.

God knew he would cross the line and eat the forbidden fruit and sin, and God knew that as a result, we all become sinners. That is why the Bible says that Christ was slain from the foundation of the world (see Revelation 13:8).

The all-knowing, ever-present God made the decision long before our actual sin that Jesus would come to this earth, be born, and would live, die, and rise again from the dead to save us from our sins. Oh, how precious is the Gift of Christmas.

Prayer: I bless Your holy name for You, Father, are thoughtful and so loving.

Scriptural Reading: John 1: 29-34