Message Preached on December 25, 2022 by Pastor Cynthia D. Bellamy
Luke 2: 5-14 & 2 Corinthians 9: 14-15
During this season, the Christmas season, we find that in this time of the year advertisers and marketing teams within companies will do whatever it takes to have consumers buy their products. These companies know that consumers are getting ready to create their shopping list and prepare gifts for their loved ones, relatives, and friends. Money spent and debt accumulated. They make us believe if we need it, it would make our lives easier. Further, they make you believe that everyone in your life needs a gift. Truth be told, you cannot get everyone something. No matter how hard you try, it is near impossible to gift everyone something. The marketers are strategic to get in our minds to make us believe, you cannot live without it. Then, there’s this tendency to allow consumers the 30 day rule to be able to try it and return it. Therefore, you consider buying not just one but two, just in case someone else needs one.
In Luke, we read it was time for Mary to deliver. The shepherds were in the field and told to fear not because of the light that shone around them. Good tidings is brought and good tidings is an old fashioned word about recent news. Good news was being brought about the birth of Jesus. We call the Gospel the good news, and it is being preached here. With shepherds back then, one thing we have to understand is they were considered outcasts because of their position, and what they had to deal with being in the field. They weren’t even allowed to go in the courts in the cities. However, what is important to see here is the Gospel being brought to someone in a lower state. It it first delivered to the shepherds, who may have thought they were not worthy of such gift being brought to them.
Some of us may even come to think in this season we aren’t getting a gift or no one thought about me. Yet, the truth of the matter is in the scripture the one gift that doesn’t single out anyone nor forget anyone, is the gift that is Jesus. This one gift doesn’t accumulate debt or have you spend any money. This gift doesn’t leave anyone behind, no matter the color or background of who you are. It is a gift to ALL people. The shepherds were excited about this gift and excited to get to Jesus. Are you excited to get to Jesus? Are you excited for this precious gift? Jesus didn’t need an advertisement or marketing team to get the message out about him. ” A son is born on this day,” was all that needed to be said.
You can call this gift a healer, deliverer, provider but most importantly He is the Saviour, our Saviour Christ the Lord. Have you made room for Christ? For Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. If you don’t get anything this season from anyone, just know that Jesus is the gift. He is Emmanuel, He is with us! You must let the world know that Jesus was born as Saviour for their lives.
2 Corinthians 9: 15 says Jesus is an unspeakable gift. Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift that is available to everyone. The announcement of Jesus’ birth did not need a fine print letting us know about the 30 days we have to try and return. Jesus did not need a marketing team. It is a gift that is indescribable. If anyone is dying and in need, the Saviour is here! Will you receive the Saviour as your gift this season? When you usually get a gift, you tend to praise the person who hands over the gift with a thank you and show appreciation. Yet, there is something about the gift of Jesus that is like no other. Allow God to use you to share this precious Gift of Jesus with another. Do not allow fake advertisement to miss the real gift.
A gift earned is not a gift. The gift of Jesus was not earned but given to us. We thank God for this gift given to us because He loved us.
