Giving Good Gifts - Part Four

The gift of the Christ Child is the greatest gift ever given. God gives good gifts. Receive it. Share it.

2MefromHim Devotionals

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, 13

Mary’s story has a very special place in my heart. I am a mother because two young women made selfless decisions to place their babies for adoption, choosing my husband and me to raise their children in their place.

An unplanned pregnancy in a young, unmarried girl, betrothed, living in a small, very religious town, with a fantastic explanation is not what most would consider a gift. Luke, reports that Mary was “greatly troubled” at the words of the angel who announced she would be with child by the Holy Spirit.

Mary’s struggles are not recorded, but Matthew and Luke tell the story of a young girl whose story was believed by very few. She made a hurried visit her aged Aunt Elizabeth, who confirmed her belief, greeting her, by saying “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

Mary’s fiancée didn’t believe her story. Joseph planned to divorce her until an angel visited him, assuring him she told the truth. He took her as his wife, thus becoming Jesus’ adoptive, earthly father. These two young people must have had many questions, but they trusted God.

I love to read the gospel stories every year, concentrating on the faith of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, the shepherds, and wise men. A common thread runs through them all—belief in something outside the realm of human experience.

The only way God could forgive my sin was by receiving a perfect sacrifice without blemish or defect. Since man is sinful, God’s Son, Jesus, came to earth Himself, in human form—wholly God and wholly man. Jesus lived a sinless life and died for our sins, so that by believing in Him, I might be saved.

The gift of the Christ Child is the greatest gift ever given. The Child sought by shepherds and wise men, is God’s choice gift to free us from our sin. By accepting Christ’s death and believing in His promise to forgive, each of us can receive the greatest gift of all.

God gives good gifts. Share it.

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 20 years. Her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 39 years. They have two adult children.