The GIFT Giver
This Season, Experience the ULTIMATE Giver of Gifts
Ephesians 2:8, ‘For by grace you have been saved! Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ!’ (TPT)
December 23rd, 2022
the GIFT: the Infinite Infant
The entire earth held its breath. The palpable beat of the Giver’s heart could be heard across the land by those who were listening and watching. They didn’t know what—or Who—they were waiting for, but they knew something, someone, was coming. Chaos and violence thrummed in the streets and the hillsides were alive with clamor.
And a young couple could be seen sauntering along—she, great with child, on the back of a donkey—the dusty, dirty road entering Bethlehem. A great lump born of inevitable love and loss sat heavy in the Giver’s chest. He felt an overwhelming perception nearly overtake Him as His eyes roved over the small procession below. He had to glance away when He noticed the man closely watching the pained expression cross his beloved’s face. He knew what Joseph was considering: it wasn’t how it was supposed to be, as he searched for a place for them to land.
It wasn’t long before Joseph knew, with dread, the timing couldn’t be more terrible. He questioned all he and his wife Mary had been told by an angel of the Lord who had appeared to each of them on separate occasions. It hadn’t been laid out like this, he thought to himself, as another sickly look crossed over Mary’s face and she doubled over in discomfort. He had to find room. The Giver held His breath, waiting.
Joseph knelt before Mary on hands and knees; the chilled night air stealing her breathing momentarily. He wondered how he could help her as he watched heaven come to earth, beauty and brokenness being birthed in the barrenness of a barn. He hadn’t known what to expect, Joseph hadn’t; the pulsating of life thick and eating up the night. Mary grimaced and cried out as the infinite infant took His first breath. At once, it seemed the world gasped, so loud was the brilliance of the star lighting up the night sky. A beautiful and serene expression crossed over Mary’s face as she stared down into the tiny eyes which would someday cry for the human soul, as she gripped the hand of God, and Joseph thought to himself, she had never looked so lovely…he had never felt so blessed. The fear of what had been and what was yet to come could hang in a balance they could look away from for just one night. The proclamations and the threats, the census and taxation, the sneers and jeers—all of it—could be silenced for this one moment in time as the God of Old stabilized the scales and leveled the field and as prophesy promised.
And once again, the earth exhaled, joy breathed, and peace hovered above it all. The Savior of the world had come! the greatest gift to ever be given to mankind by the Giver had just been born.
Luke 2:8-14, ‘In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah).And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.” Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth, peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” (AMP)
