Indian Newslink wishes all its readers Merry Christmas. Please be safe and ensure the safety of everyone around you.
Moses Singh
Auckland, December 25, 2018
Millions of people including children the world over will receive gifts over Christmas this year, like every other.
Some of them will be suitable and some will be returned or exchanged. But there is one gift that would meet everyone’s need, never wear out, never break or need repairing. A gift that is appropriate for a small child, a teenager or an adult.
Most Valuable Gift
The most valuable gift we all need is the Baby in the Manger; the child that symbolises this season.
During Christmas, we celebrate the fact God gave us the gift of His own Son, Jesus Christ, so that through faith in Him we could be forgiven of our sins.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I would like to make three points about this priceless gift.
Firstly, God commands us to know Christ-as a friend, to relate with him.
“I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15). “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3.
Relating to Jesus Christ
Let me ask you a question: Have you received this Gift? How do you relate to Jesus Christ? Do you know Him as a friend? Is He someone you can talk to, confide in, and seek counsel from? Do you feel at ease in His presence like you would with a close friend or do you feel you have clean your spiritual ‘house’ before you can welcome Him? If the answer is no and if you don’t have this kind of relationship with Christ, the good news is that you can. All you have to do is ask. Come to Him in prayer; confess your sins, ask His forgiveness, ask Him into your heart. That’s all you have to do.
Secondly, this gift has great value. Although there is truly nothing more desirable than knowing Christ, many people just can’t see it because their eyes are not yet open. They look into the manger but don’t see the King.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again and then in his joy, went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for pine pearls. When he found them of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matt. 13: 44-46.
“Jesus Christ is that treasure; He’s that pearl of great value, God’s gift to us and is worth more than anything else we could ever possess. Does your life reflect that truth? Do you know him? Are you seeking Him? Thanks be to God for his incredible gift!”–2 Corinthians 9:15.
Deserve and Receive
Finally, the gift must be received. It’s available to everyone but God doesn’t force it on anyone. Each of us must make the decision to receive Jesus Christ into our lives. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12
Not all who heard about him or agreed with his teachings. Not all who attended church, tried to follow the golden rule. Some people imagine God’s love has to be earned; that we have to do something to deserve His forgiveness that we have to somehow be good to merit, His acceptance. But a gift you have to pay for is no gift at all. Imagine your wife or children trying to pay for their gifts.
My appeal to you is this: Take Christ into your heart and into your life. The gift from God has a tag with your name on it.
Pastor Moses Singh is based in Auckland and can be contacted at the Indian Christian Life Centre, 92, St George Street, Papatoetoe. Phone: (09) 2777735. Email: iclcmoses@xtra.co.nz
The above article has been taken from Indian Newslink Archives.
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Photo Caption:
The joy of Deliverance-Jesus is born.
