Unwrapping God’s Perfect Gift

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible Gift. – 2 Corinthians 9:15

The entire Bible tells us about who God is and His plan to redeem our lost world. He accomplished that plan through Jesus—God’s only Son, wrapped in flesh. Jesus is the greatest gift there ever was, sent directly from God. Take some time to reflect on who Jesus is and all we have in Him.

Sufficient: We have everything we will ever need through Christ—Really!
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Enrichment: In God’s plan, multiplied thanks come from His multiplied blessings.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11).

Light and Life: Unconquerable Light and Life are in Christ and ours through Him.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4-5).

Abundant Grace: We receive everything through Christ, including grace to enjoy it.
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16).

God in Flesh: Christ created the world, is not of this world, but He became one of us to redeem us.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Lamb of God: Christ alone takes away the sin of the world, by His death on the cross.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)!

Risen Savior: Through Jesus’ resurrection, we are born again to a living hope.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).

Our Keeper: Jesus guards and keeps us on our way to heaven.
To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:4).

Prophetically Promised: Christ Jesus is God’s long-promised King.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Micah 5:2).

Assurance of All We Need: Christ gives us certainty that God will meet our every need.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things (Romans 8:32)?

Greif Bearer: On the cross, Jesus bore our sins and sorrows.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4).

Guilt Bearer: On the cross, Jesus took our punishment.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5-6).

Heart of God’s Redemptive Plan: God promised Jesus at the beginning of time.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15).

Conquering King: Jesus is God’s Triumphant Ruler who will rule with perfect justice.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal  of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Coming King: All our hope is in Christ’s return in glory.
This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).

Righteous Judge: When Christ returns there will be a day of perfectly just judgment.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left (Matthew 25:31-33).

Worthy Ruler: Jesus Christ is the only One in heaven and earth who Is worthy to reign.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Revelation 5:12)!

Our world is temporary and troubled. Christ is the eternal Prince of Peace. Let Him dominate your focus during this holiday season. Or, in the words of Helen Howarth Lemmel:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.

In Him,

Dave Dussault
Northpoint Prayer Ministry

– Each week, Dave updates a monthly Bible reading plan and writes a Bible and prayer focus, Prayer Life. The preceding is a recent installment. You can pick up both offerings at the Information Center in the Foyer on Sundays, or sign up there to receive them via email. You can also click here to find the archive.