Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...”
Isaiah 9:6
As a young girl growing up in the Lutheran church we celebrated Advent. Once again, in this Christmas Season, the Advent celebration has come to my attention. Originally Advent focused on two truths :
It celebrated Jesus having come as a gift to redeem mankind and Jesus’ soon, coming again.
On the foundation of these two truths, Advent celebrates God’s attributes that come to us in His gift, Jesus Christ. They are, Peace, Hope, Joy and Love.
Christmas and our traditions should always draw our attention to the ONE it is all about. How great God’s desire for us to know Him is seen in the gift and the revealing of His son. Jesus is THE hope of glory, THE joy unspeakable, THE peace that passes all understanding and THE love that never fails or forsakes us. They all begin with the personal reception of His gift.
“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”
An invitation to believe and receive has been extended to all men that they might know Him, the Author and Giver of life. To know the Father, the only true God, and His son, Jesus Christ is eternal life. The Father is unwilling for any to perish, yet many do because they refuse to accept the gift He has given.
“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”
God proves His love for us in the life and death of Jesus Christ. God so loved that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Salvation is freely given when the gift is received.
“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”
As we make preparations for Christmas, in the midst of all our world sets before us, may we be mindful to lift up our heads and gaze upon THE ONE who has richly blessed us and give Him thanks for the precious gift of His son, Jesus Christ. For, unto us a child is born and unto us a son has been given.