A PERSONAL GIFT
18th Dec 2019
The arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem was not the banner headline in the “Jerusalem Times”, nor the first item on the Six O’clock News, he came as a personal gift to individual people.
The prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 says, “Unto us a child is born.” Jesus is not just a universal Saviour, he is a personal Saviour. It is only when we can read these words as God’s intimate message to us, that we can apply the amazing message to our own circumstances.
The message to the shepherds had the same personal and intimate character. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news…a Saviour has been born to you.” They knew God was speaking to them, this was not just general information, so they left the sheep and hurried to the stable. The personal encounter was life transforming. “The shepherds returned, glorying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2 20)
Going back to Isaiah, when we receive this message as a personal communication it ceases to be information, it brings transformation. “And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor” Jesus wants to enter into every detail of my life, to understand all the challenges, to speak wisdom into every dilemma, and to walk with me and talk with me as I live my every day life.
He is the Mighty God, who has to power to come into the difficulties I face in life every day and transform my situation, to redeem my mistakes, and to help me in my time of need.
He is the Everlasting Father, who stands beside me in every part of my life, he takes away loneliness and heals insecurity. Jesus said of himself, “I’m not alone for my Father is with me.”
He is Prince of Peace, who is there when life is tough, when people disappoint us and when we have challenges that we are totally incapable of facing.
One of the saddest verses in the Bible is, “He came to his own but his own received him not.” - But it continues, “But to as many as received him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:11-12)
by Charles Sibthorpe
