Jesus, the Anointed Son of the Living God, came as a babe in a manger. After 33 years He died a horrible death on the cross. God Himself came down through 42 generations and emptied Himself of all Heavenly privileges to come to earth.
Here you have the One that made the universe, born not even in a Holiday Inn. He's got to be born with the animals and the hay, dressed in clothing hardly fit for a human. There was no heat or decent food. God, Himself, is born poor. And now you find Him at the end of His ministry on a cross, saying, "God you have forsaken me."
What was the reason for the 33 years?
God Would Not Give Up On Us
The reason that this happened is that God wanted to be sure that those people who messed up in that garden didn't have to pay the price of Hell. I've said many times that He is the Creator. Just like He made Mars, He could have left earth. And God could have created another one, start all over again and say, "Maybe this group will do it right."
But God was not willing to give Satan one inch where you were concerned. God will not give up on you one bit. Even if you messed up so badly that nobody wanted to have anything to do with you again, God said, "I'll take you!"
He will take you if you missed it. And He will take you if you make it. He'll take you if you've been saved all your life. And He'll take you if you've been the drug dealer, a murderer, or whatever.
He'll take you at whatever you are right now, because He loves you.
And He doesn't love the "goodie-two-shoes" any more than He loves the bad one. He loves us all the same! And He says every one of them can have my deliverance from sin.
The Gift Of Jesus
If we never get anything else from God, we ought to come to church and praise God just for that. Christmas is about giving God thanks for what He did for us. It's about giving God thanks for the greatest gift ever given on earth, that Gift is Jesus.
Jesus is the biggest gift-wrapped package of love ever given to man.
From the Butler family and Keith Butler Ministries, may God richly bless you. Have a Merry Christmas!
Study Reference: Luke 1:26-35; John 14:26-27
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