The Three Abiding Gifts of Christmas

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14).

Today’s story took place in the hill country of Judea, near the small town of Bethlehem. The date is lost to us, but it was well known to Luke’s first readers. It was the year of the Imperial Tax, levied by Augustus Caesar, and collected by his governor, Quirinius. Who was there? A few shepherds keeping an eye on their flocks. In Christmas cards, the shepherd’s life is a romantic one, but in fact, it was the sorriest job in the world, combining dullness with danger, long hours and low pay. But that night, the tedium was broken and the scant wages were no longer important. An angel appeared to the men and God's glory was shining around him. This glory had not been seen in Israel for a very long time, but every pious Jew knew what it was, and what it meant. The Glory that departed from Israel when they went into exile was back in full force! The angel announced that God had come home at last and included for serious truth seekers in his message is the revelation of the three abiding gifts of Christmas.

Christmas is overwhelmed with giving and receiving gifts, but one of the marks of the maturing disciple is a growing appreciation for the most important gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to call Christ the gift that is so great there are no words to fully express or describe it… “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). As we grow in Christ and we know Him better we find that all other gifts pale in His shadow. The angel pronounced that Jesus Christ is truly the gift that keeps on giving in at least three very wonderful ways.

In Christ we receive the glory of God. Every bit of creation was created by God and intended to reflect His glory… “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). God created mankind in His image as the crown of creation to reflect His glory in all we say and do. But sin keeps us from knowing and reflecting God’s glory… “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christ came to pay for our sin and to show us how to experience and share God’s glory again… “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

In Christ we receive the peace of God. He made us to live in relationship with Him, each other, and the rest of creation. But we don’t live this way. Our sins make us selfish and abusive, and until they’re taken away we cannot know the peace He intends for us. This is what Christ has done. He has taken away our sins, by bearing them in His own body on the cross. And, in doing this, He has satisfied the justice of God and restored us to fellowship with our Creator… “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

In Christ we receive the pleasure of God. When He finished creating the world God said everything He had made was good. Then sin entered and infected our world with evil. Until we are reconnected with God we have no clue what is really good for us. But God does. Jesus Christ reveals and extends God’s pleasure or grace toward those who seek Him… “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16). It’s the favor and grace of God that quickened us who were dead in sin so we could receive life in Christ by faith… “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).

As we grow up into Christ we are blessed again and again by…

The Three Abiding Gifts of Christmas.