The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift 

For unto us a child is born,to us a son is given

and the government will be on his shoulders

and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is synonymous with gifts. I 'd like to believe that sales are at an all time high during Christmas as families, friends, colleagues and others go all out to give gifts to their loved ones and those who have touched their lives. Employers of labour give their staff bonuses and others reach out to the less privileged with all sorts of gift packs. This is not surprising considering the fact that Christmas is really a celebration of the greatest gift any person can ever receive that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 9:6-7 and other scriptures tell us some of the characteristics of Jesus that make him the greatest Gift.

 1) Matthew 1:21 says he came to save us from our sins. When we consider the fact that all have sinned and are heading for eternity in hell. We can appreciate the magnitude of God's love and sacrifice in making a way for us to share eternity with Him in heaven. This is only possible if we receive forgiveness of our sins through Jesus who came at Christmas and died as the perfect sacrifice to take our place.

2) Matthew 1:23 says he is Emmanuel God with us and in Matt 28:20 Jesus assured His followers of his continued presence always. What a precious gift to have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords present with us always, at all times and in all circumstances.

3) Isaiah 9:6 calls him the everlasting father. If we understand the true concept of fatherhood we will thank God for this gift. True fathers will do all in their power to care for, provide for and protect their children. Jesus in speaking of fathers said they being evil will not give their children stone instead of bread or a snake instead of fish. In other words if earthly fathers take care of their children how much more God who is committed to giving His children good things. We are not servants but sons with full rights and access to our father. The best part is that this father is the richest, most loving and most powerful one anyone could ask for.

4) Still in Isaiah 9:6  - 7 he is referred to as Mighty God and the increase and peace of his government has no end. In my last post I shared on how God is sovereign. His government has no boundaries or limit. He rules and reigns in all nations and in the lives of all men. Ephesians says we are seated with Him in heavenly places. Because He rules and reigns we are covered and he calls us to establish God 's kingdom on earth with Him.

5) if there is something the world needs more than anything it is peace Isaiah says He is the Prince of peace. How I wish world leaders that strife to find lasting peace will acknowledge Him as the only source and giver of peace. God can give us peace despite the lack of it in our world and life events that threaten to steal our peace. He promises to give us peace that passes all understanding and it's ours for the asking.

You might be wondering how possible it is for you to experience peace because of the challenges you are facing or the loss of your husband or other loved ones. Humanly it might seem impossible but remember when Mary asked the angel how she  could conceive when she didn't know a man.  The angel said the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High will over shadow her for with God nothing shall be impossible Luke 1:34-37 That power that made a virgin to conceive, is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and is available to give life to every thing that seems dead in your life be it peace,hope,joy,success or anything else. Only accept the greatest gift this season, it's a complete package!

That's why I am excited to wish you Merry Chtistmas!

God is Sovereign

Remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

  Isaiah 46: 9 -10

What does it mean to be sovereign? ‘having supreme rank, power or authority, preeminent; Indisputable, greatest in degree; utmost or extreme being above all others in character, importance, excellence, efficacious,; potent. (Dictionary.com). The Merriam- Webster Dictionary defines Sovereign as, ‘superlative in quality; excellent of a most exalted kind; - supreme, of an unqualified nature, having undisputed ascendancy, unlimited in extent: absolute, enjoying autonomy.

Wow! Such beautiful definitions I doubt if there is any human being that qualifies as a sovereign being or who has all these attributes. The definitions show that to be sovereign means to be over and above all, one that can do and undo anything. Such a person is preeminent and indisputable that is above all and unquestionable, unqualified nature to me means having no full understanding of the character and nature of such a one and unlimited in extent means endless. There are human beings who are regarded as sovereign by virtue of their position in life so we hear  phrases like ‘the sovereign ruler or such and such a place’ mostly used in reference to kings, queens, presidents and leaders of countries who no doubt have powers but such powers are limited. For example the Queen of England is only queen in England and while she is respected and acknowledged the world over she cannot decide what happens in other parts of the world and neither can she reign in all parts of the earth. 

In times past Kings had so much power they were often revered as god’s a King like Ahasuerus was so powerful that even his wife could be killed if she went uninvited to him and he didn’t hold out his sceptre to her. In some parts of Nigeria in the olden days if a king saw a woman he liked he could command that she be taken to his palace as wife whether she liked it or not and whether she was married or not. No one including her husband could object. I am tempted to ask where those kings are now. Some were dethroned, others conquered in wars, died of sickness or were killed they couldn’t save themselves, so much for their sovereignty.  The Bible says of our Lord ‘Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end’ He is the eternal God that is our refuge.

I don’t think there is a word that better describes our great God like the word sovereign. He simply rules and reigns over the affairs of men. Without question only God is sovereign, He is Almighty, all knowing, all powerful, deathless, ageless and changeless. As great and mighty as he is He is mindful of us and interested in us. He had in him the power to keep our husbands or loved ones alive but chose to take them home. What He could have stopped in his infinite power He allowed in His infinite wisdom and He asks that we trust Him even in this. The storms and trails of life may knock us over but they can’t knock Him and because He is sovereign He will get us through. The future may seem uncertain but He who used a raven to feed Elijah and filled the widow’s containers with more than enough oil to get her out of debt remains the same. God has not changed and will not change. Nothing comes your way that he can’t handle. As we celebrate God’s greatest gift to man this season be encouraged that the love that took him to the cross and the power that raised him are available to lift you up and take you through a victorious life.