Minister's Blog

The Greatest Gift
God gave the greatest gift. When my grandfather passed away we found dress shirts he had been given many years ago, still in the plastic wrapping, stacked in his closet. Every year, he was given gifts he did not need. He set them aside thinking he might use them at some point, but he never did. The Gift God gave of His precious Son, Jesus Christ was one humanity desperately needed then and still needs today! Often we think of the gifts the wise men brought to the Christ child, but these gifts were temporary, finite and eventually exhausted by Jesus’ parents. The incarnation accomplished what we never could. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and the child born to her was the Son of God. He was not conceived and born with a fallen sin nature as we are. No son of Adam could deliver Adam’s children. The Son of God, born of a woman, was the only one who could live without sin, fulfill the law, and therefore die a substitutionary atoning death for the sins of the world.
God’s gift was planned. I love reading Matthew’s account of the nativity. It is shorter than Luke’s but it includes the genealogy of Jesus and it is filled with prophetic quotes. As Matthew wrote to a primarily Hebrew audience, it was vital for him to demonstrate that Jesus was born into the right family. The readers needed to know that His ancestry and the circumstances of His birth fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. Our God was able to look through time and speak through His prophets regarding this glorious gift He would give us. How? All of these things happened according to His foreknowledge and His predetermined plan to reveal His grace, mercy and love through this glorious gift who would be, God with us, Emmanuel.
God’s gift is available. Commercials and advertisements usually have a disclaimer: “available for a limited time.” The Incarnate Son of God, Jesus our Lord and Savior, is still saving those who come to Him in faith. The One who became “God with us” is, “able to save completely those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them,” Hebrews 7:25, CSB. The Gospel is the power of God to save those who believe, everywhere, regardless of class or background. The angels told the shepherds in Luke 2:10, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Thank God for the Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Special Thanks…
I would like to express my appreciation to Robert Grafton for his many years of faithful service in the worship ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church. For 22 years, Brother Robert has served as our worship leader. He has led several different choirs and ensembles and has always strived for excellence in his weekly duties and special events. Please take every opportunity to encourage Robert as you see him this month and pray for his future ministry at First Baptist Bernice.