The Soul Felt Its Worth

Isaiah 9:6–7 NASB95

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

A Gift I didn’t expect.

Every Christmas Eve my Dad Shows up at our house. This may not seem that big of a deal to you, but he has been dead for 5 years. When we get home tonight, we will eat a Christmas Eve meal, delight ourselves with Sugar cookies and egg nog, gather on the couch around the fire, and open a red book. Every time we open this book, my dad shows up.

Years ago on Christmas, I was unwrapping my presents at my parent’s house. I received the usual, socks and underwear, one item that I really wanted and had asked for, and this square present about two inches thick. I opened it and it was a book with a giant Santa on the cover of it. All the details of the book looked like it came from Hallmark. My Dad told me to open it up, as he sat in his chair with an accomplished smile upon his face. With skeptical motion I flipped open the cover to what was the reading of the poem “twas the night before Christmas” read and recorded, page by page, by my Dad. It was his favorite poem. Christmas time was my Dad’s favorite time of year and he made it special. Who I am and how I do Christmas has been heavily influenced by him.

As I listened, page by page, to the recording of him reading, ‘twas the night before Christmas’, I knew he was proud of it. I knew my dad gave this gift not because I asked for it, but because he wanted to give me something that was a part of him and came from his heart, a little piece of who he was. But when I was finished with the book, I placed it in the pile with all the other Christmas novelties that came from hallmark that my Dad got me, and like all the Christmas gifts that we get that are not what we desire most, the book was lost.

Then my Dad passed away 5 years ago right after Christmas. He didn’t get to be at my wedding, he didn’t get to meet Beau, and to be honest I didn’t get to tell him just how much he has influenced my life and how much I loved him. Then a couple years ago, I received a Christmas present in the mail from my mother. I tore open the packaging with the efficiency of a wood chipper and tossed the box. There in my hands, grasping at its edges, was the book I once thought meaningless, but now treasured above all; it was like receiving a gift that you didn’t expect but was the best gift you had ever received. I opened to the first page, and heard the perfect pitch of my Dad’s radio voice begin saying, “Twas the night before Christmas”. And every Christmas eve since my Dad shows up at my house. And the best part of all this, is at the end of the book, my Dad says, “Merry Christmas Bruce, Love ya!”

Perfect gifts are the ones we don’t expect. They are gifts that come to us from someone’s love for us. The gifts that we never realized we needed are the gifts we often treasure the most. They are gifts from our loved ones that are given out of the sheer love for us. They are thoughtful, extremely valuable, and undeserved. This is exactly what Isaiah tells us in this passage: Out of the “passion” that God the Father has for us, He gave us his son. A gift we did not expect. When we receive this gift, we come to know our worth.

I share this story about my dad not because I want to highlight him but rather to better understand what our Father has done and why we celebrate Christmas. “Our Father” has given us a gift. He has given us his all- His Son Jesus Christ. Isaiah says, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us...” [Isa. 9:6a]

Jesus is the gift we didn’t expect. He was the gift not found in the places where people were looking and desiring, but in the place and at a time we least expected. And this gift will show up not just on every Christmas eve but everyday for Isaiah says, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore…” [Isa. 9:7ab]

Jesus is the gift that never grows old, wears out, but remains forever and we get to enjoy him everyday not just once a year. Jesus is a gift that keeps on giving.

And why? What possessed “our Father” to give us this gift? Isaiah says, “...The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” [Isa. 9:7c]

Out the nature of who “our Father” is and his passion for us did he give us this gift of Jesus. Our father gifts us from who he is and what is good rather than provoked by our wishes or ours works. “Our Father” gave us this gift not because it was on our list, but because he wanted to share how much he loves us, and reveal to us who He is.

And when we come to possess this gift of Jesus, we come to learn the true worth of who we are for we just sang, “‘til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.” [O Holy Night]

I am reminded every Christmas Eve how much my Dad loved me because of the gift he gave me years ago, and so all of us come to know our value and worth through the life of Jesus. The worth of our souls is seen and felt in the precious life of Jesus given for you and me. For Peter says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” [1 Peter 1:18-19]

Our father has spared no expense to gift us eternal life that we might have a relationship with Him. He has remade what was broken and restored our value all in one gift- His Son Jesus Christ.

This is my prayer for us on the night before Christmas and what I hope you will take home to your families tonight to warm yourselves with, that your soul will feel its worth as you reflect and worship Jesus who was given to you by God the Father who didn’t gift you with a present from your wish lists, or from anything that you have done, but out of His own passion for you.

I pray that everyone will come to learn their value not from the things they want, but from the God who gave his Son. A gift we didn’t expect but the very gift we needed.

I pray for all who may have disregarded our Father’s gift of Jesus and put him among the things we least desire will rediscover Him and see again for the first time the treasure He is, and that He is exactly what you need. St. Augustine says, “Christ is not valued at all, unless He is valued above all.”

I pray that Jesus shows up at your house this Christmas and everyday for the rest of your life. That your worth be found not by how hard you work, how much money you make, or any achieves your have accomplished, or by the joy YOU bring to others, but your souls worth is discovered by the life and precious blood of Jesus.

I pray that you will know with absolute certainty that God cares and loves you. That he wants what is best for you. That he does cause his face to shine upon you.

I pray that you don’t go looking for other acts or gifts of love to find your worth, but cling to the only act of love given for you in Jesus. That Jesus is all you need to know the love of God.

Now I leave you with this, the gifts of bread and wine. That as you consume this meal, God’s passion for you will be remember, that the gift of Jesus will be treasured, and your soul feels its worth. Let’s pray...