Beside the Well
Most of us have heard the story of the young couple that sold their most valuable possession to get a Christmas gift for the other. The young man sold his gold watch to buy combs for his wife’s hair and the young wife sold her beautiful hair to purchase a chain for her husband’s watch. On Christmas morning they each knew the value of the precious gifts they had been given.
This is the heart of Christmas giving. For a gift to be truly precious, everything else must pale by comparison.
The characters in the Nativity recognized the gift of God’s promised Messiah placing it above all they valued on earth. No cost was too high.
Joseph risked his reputation by taking Mary as his wife.
Mary risked rejection and possible death in revealing to Joseph the results of her visit from the angel.
Joseph and Mary risked it all to travel to Bethlehem so close to the due date of the Savior’s birth and humbled themselves to the accommodation of a manger bed.
The Shepherds left their livelihood to discover the angel’s announcement.
The Wise Men left the comfort of their riches and traveled at great personal expense to follow the Star and find the babe.
Anna waited many years at the Temple to receive the promise. The man Simeon did as well!
These are from the Christmas story, but through the centuries men have agreed with Paul. “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus ….that I might know him.” Philippians 3:8, 10
Spurgeon said, “Nothing teaches us the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we discover the emptiness of everything else.” Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift!
May your Christmas be filled with His presence and everything else pale in comparison.
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