January

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Well, here we are at the start of a New Year.  Christmas has come and gone and I hope you have had a pleasant and enjoyable time.  I would think that most of you gave and received gifts, as I did.

I usually find it difficult to know what to give as gifts.  Also, family and friends often do not know what to give me and I rarely know what gifts to suggest if asked.

Occasionally a gift may be received, which is inappropriate, and we don’t know what to do with it. 

God is the only person who knows the best gift for us and His gift is Jesus Christ His Son, whom He sent

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“to be the Saviour of the world”,

1 John 4 v 14. 

Many celebrate His birth at Christmas.

Joseph and Mary travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but when they arrived they could find no room. 

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“There was no room for them in the inn” 

Luke 2 v 7. 

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Even before His birth there was no room for Jesus.  God’s gift was sent away.

When the wise men came looking for the infant Christ they went to Herod’s palace and asked, 

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“Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”

Matthew 2 v 2. 

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Because the wise men failed to return to tell Herod where the young child was he

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“was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under”

Matthew 2 v 16. 

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This was because he was envious and wanted no competition.  Again God’s Gift was rejected.

When Jesus was about 30 years old, He went into the synagogue at Nazareth and read a passage from the Old Testament and spoke about what He had read. It so angered the people that they

 

“rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way”

Luke 4 v 29,30. 

 

Yet again God’s Gift was rejected.

On another occasion we read,

“Then took they up stones to cast at him”

 John 8 v 59. 

 

We read

“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him”. 

John 10 v 31

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They continued to reject God’s Gift.

We see over and over again God’s Gift of His Son was rejected and cast out, culminating in His crucifixion at Calvary.  Yet Christ had come to give life to those that would put their faith and trust in Him.

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“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life”

 1 John 5 v 12.

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We might receive some gifts that we do not want.  However, the acceptance of God’s Gift, His Son, is vital to know the certainty of a place in heaven and to ensure that we do not face God’s judgment.

How wonderful if you know God’s forgiveness and peace, having accepted God’s Gift. 

 

“The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”

 Galatians 2 v 20.

BM

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