The greatest gift

I was much heartened by my church's involvement of cell groups to reach out to the needy this Christmas season. Very meaningful, I thought, for each cell group to buy, pack and deliver hampers (bags) of basic food items to one or two needy families in the Hougang locality. This is of course in keeping with the practice of buying and giving Christmas presents (sans the commercialisation of gift-buying) and, at the same time, contributes to stronger solidarity and bonding of the cell group.

An email from a friend this morning reminds that "Christmas is not just about gift-giving, parties and carols ... It’s a reminder of God’s wonderful love and His greatest gift to us. In the midst of the season’s celebrations, may you experience God’s love and remember Jesus whose birthday we are celebrating."

Indeed, God's greatest gift to us is His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. After Adam and Eve sinned when the latter was deceived by the serpent into eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of of the knowledge of good and evil, God provided a Saviour for the redemption of man.

"14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." " "
(Genesis 3 : 14 - 15)

"16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
(Jobn 3 : 16 - 17)

This Saviour is Jesus Christ -

"who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead."

And so, while we may not know the exact date of birth of Jesus, Christmas is a time to remember and celebrate God's greatest gift to us - His Son Jesus Christ.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
(Luke 2 : 14)