“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT)

When you’re a child, Christmas is all about receiving gifts. In December, your head is swimming with nothing but images of your favorite toys. But the true message of Christmas is not the presents we give to one another. The true meaning is the gift that God gave to us, His Son Jesus Christ.

One of the most remarkable aspects of God’s perfect gift to us is that it came in simple wrapping. Some people will go to great lengths to wrap presents beautifully. But God’s gift came to us not in beautiful, ornate wrapping, but in a dirty manger found in a cold cave in a little-known town called Bethlehem. That’s the beauty of the Christmas event. Jesus took His place in a manger so that we might have a home in Heaven. The Savior was not wrapped in satin sheets, but in common rags. There in a manger rested the greatest gift in the plainest of wrapping.

Isaiah 53:2–3 says, “My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (NLT).

The New Testament reveals much about Jesus. But the one thing it doesn’t tell us is what He looked like. Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (nlt). But that’s about all we know. All indications suggest that Jesus’ appearance was plain and unremarkable. His words and actions, on the other hand, changed the world.

An even more remarkable aspect of God’s gift to us is that we don’t deserve it. Consider this: God gave us the ultimate gift of His Son Jesus Christ while we were still sinning against Him. The apostle Paul put it this way: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).

We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve His gift. That’s the amazing truth of Christmas. Despite who we are and what we’ve done, God sent His Son so “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).

Christmas is one day away. Prepare your heart for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. He came in an unremarkable form. And He came even though we don’t deserve Him. So, today let’s meditate on the fact that Jesus was born to die so that we might live.

Reflection question: How can you show God your gratitude for a gift you don’t deserve? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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