The Perfect Gift

Scripture:

Hebrews 1:3  He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

Observation:

This assertion about the nature of Jesus Christ is fundamental to understanding the incredible gift that we received through the birth of Jesus Christ. No ordinary human, Jesus was an exact imprint of the nature of God. As soft wax received the exact imprint of the king’s signet, so Jesus was the image of the Father. He carried within him the essence of God and this radiated with the very glory of God. 

Jesus, in his creative role, has spoken life into this world, and continues to sustain all things. As the exact imprint of God, in human flesh, he is able to serve in a priestly function, offering the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. Then, jumping past the resurrection and the ascension the author takes us immediately into the throne-room of God, where the royal priesthood of Jesus is affirmed in his position for all of eternity. 

Application:

This is the season of gift-giving. Many may have been struggling over the “perfect gift.” What is it that we want to give to our loved ones? 

Now, maybe without realizing it, we go through that struggle because we are trying to mirror the fact that God gave us the perfect gift in Christ Jesus. During this holiday season we will speak of love, joy, and peace which were breathed into the world, but this is only because of Jesus, himself. Maybe we fail to understand the perfection of the gift — which Christ was and still is, for all of humanity. 

To have God become human is an incredible thing. Jesus, by assuming human flesh, begins to heal the corruption caused by sin. Just by living his entire life he is healing and sanctifying human life, and providing a pathway for us all. Jesus, the exact imprint of the Father, by coming as an innocent baby is making it possible for us to become clear reflections of him, and hence of God. The image of God can be restored now in all of humanity, because we can reflect Christ. And, because of his atoning sacrifice, we can can be made clean, purified, holy in his likeness, adopted as children into God’s family. Jesus’ birth makes it possible for us to become his brothers and sisters, because he becomes like us. That is incredible! There is no more perfect gift.

So as we struggle over finding the “perfect gift,” don’t forget about sharing THE perfect gift. If you listen closely, there are people surrounding us every day who are searching for just the right thing. They just don’t know where to find it. If you know Christ, you already have it, and should be willing to share the gift with others. The perfect gift isn’t under the Christmas tree, nor at Jared’s! The perfect gift has already been given. Will we embrace him, in all his glory? 

Prayer:

Lord, I think I am only beginning to understand the depths of your great love. Thank you for all that you have done for us. Please, help me to share that gift. Amen.