Christmas is a Gift

It is better for God to give than to receive.

When we slow down during the Christmas season, take in a deep breath and look up to where salvation comes we will be reminded that Christmas is a gift.

Having a thankful attitude can turn the holiday into a joyful time. To be completely overwhelmed by the blessing of Christmas we can all rejoice with increasing joy. Let us be glad and rejoice for our Redeemer has walked upon the earth and fulfilled the Fathers promise for all mankind.

Only when we focus on Christ will what is covered in contempt be turned into something glorious. Only through Christ will the darkness of sin be replaced with a great light.

It is through Christ that we find increased joy and gladness. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is these things for us; for our eternal salvation and our ever increasing gladness.

Even our anguish and gloom are swallowed up when we turn our eyes upon Jesus.

The gift of God is the gift of Christmas. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

Let's look into the book of Isaiah where we find in 9:1-7 a prophecy of the newborn king. As we read we can begin to joyfully unwrap and celebrate the gift of Christmas.

First God’s gift comes wrapped in no gloom (verse 1)

We must understand that joy is found by looking to and relying on God’s power to accomplish his will.

Gloom, depression, and despair come from turning away from God and looking to the things of this earth.

In Isaiah 8 we learn that the people have turned away from God. They are looking to another nation for their rescue. They are not looking to God for strength (8:6).

They are going to mediums and psychics for their direction instead of listening to God’s testimony and his teaching.

To make a long story really short they have abandoned God, suffered for it, and then cursed God and the king for their troubles.

They believe their sin and suffering are not their fault. It’s God’s fault and it’s the king’s fault.

So God has hidden his face from them. God has removed his presence and they are thrust into thick darkness.

And then comes the promise of Isaiah 9:1,

BUT [in the midst of judgment there is the promise and the certainty of the Lord's deliverance and] there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time [the Lord] brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He will make it glorious, by the way of the Sea [of Galilee, the land] beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

Oh there was gloom; God’s people were in anguish. The people of Israel, the northern kingdom, specifically the land of Zebulun and Naphtali were the first to be captured and hauled away by the Assyrians.

This is terrible. They now belong to another. But a glorious time is coming; it is the glorious time of Christ.

Matthew quotes from Isaiah 9:1 & 2 and says in Matthew 4:14 that these words of Isaiah were fulfilled when Christ left Nazareth and went to live in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Our deepest gloom and grievous affliction can be turned around. The capture of Zebulun, Naphtali, all the Northern Kingdom, and even the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple itself are inconsequential when it comes to living a life of joy.

Now get this; the removal of gloom doesn’t come when Israel is released from Babylonian captivity.

The removal of gloom doesn’t come with the rebuilding of the temple. The removal of gloom, the exchange of depression for joy comes only through God’s gift of Christmas.

(Countdown to Christmas, day 5)