Power Point - December 14, 2005

December 14, 2005

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

--Luke 2:6-7

During the month of November each year, our church puts together boxes filled with Christmas gifts for boys and girls all over the world. We send trucks filled with boxes to children, many who have experienced war, famine, and bloodshed, in different countries—all so we can show them Christ’s love.

There is a story that a friend of mine once told me. He works directly with an organization who heads this up and he told of a trip a few years ago to Bosnia. During this trip, he spoke to a group of fourth graders in their school classroom, and told them of the true meaning of Christmas. They spent 30 minutes talking about why Jesus came.

Presents were passed out to the children and they carefully unwrapped their gifts and kept everything — even the wrapping paper! My friend described a look of joy in their eyes as they pulled each small present out of the shoebox. Through the interpreter, he asked what the boys got in their box, and they replied instantly, “Everything! Everything!”

The boxes sent out each year filled with small toys are some of the only gifts these impoverished children will ever see. We live in a country where there is much trouble, yet we have never known missiles or bombs to threaten our homes and lives, war, or the heartache and intensity of their problems. Today, I’m thinking about another box — a manger — that carried a precious gift over 2,000 years ago.

It was just a simple box that was used to feed the cattle. But when Mary gave birth to Jesus, she wrapped Him in a beautiful cloth and laid holy God in a manger. Everything was in that box! God’s love, life everlasting, forgiveness, hope, mercy — everything that God could give He gave to us in Jesus Christ. And we are called to open the box and invite Jesus into our hearts and follow Him all the days of our lives.

ON THAT SILENT NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM, GOD HIMSELF LAY BUNDLED IN A TINY BOX, WAITING TO BE RECEIVED AS A GIFT BY ALL MANKIND.