The Greatest Gift

Maybe some of you above 35 years of age will remember one of the first commercials involving a man sitting at his table with a mouth full of peanut butter and no milk to wash it down.

• A man who suddenly receives a phone call from a local radio station to answer the $10,000 trivia question

• He knows the answer and so desperately tries to get it out but can’t because his mouth is full of peanut butter

• His answer is unintelligible

• He loses out on the prize

• And the commercial ends with the tagline “GOT MILK?”

• Since then countless celebrities and athletes have sported the famous milk moustache

In a world of countless beverage choices - the question, “Got Milk?” continues to remind people about the wholesome goodness of plain, old milk. Got Milk? A good question:

• The role of milk is to nourish, provide immune protection and for bone strengthening

• Milk has been a food source for humans since the beginning to time

• Nutritional value of milk is high

So, “Got Milk” is a very good question, but not nearly as good as the question I have for us this morning – and lift up as a thought -- GOT JESUS? It's really a much more important question than “Got milk?”

• Milk is beneficial for good health, and strong bones and teeth

• But Jesus is helpful in so many more ways!

In a world where there are countless choices when it comes to religion, and countless opinions concerning how someone gets into heaven, GOT JESUS? - is the most important question you can ask a person in life. "GOT JESUS?" is a much more important question than "Got Milk?" While milk is beneficial for good health, strong bones and teeth - Jesus is beneficial for life.

• He is the only One who can forgive our sins

• He is the only One who can Grant us eternal life in heaven with God

• He is the only One who can Deliver us from sickness

• He is the only One who can Transform our lives into something meaningful

• He is the only One who can Grant us new life

• He is the only One who can Give us Peace that Surpasses All Understanding

• He is the only One who can walk with us daily through whatever trials may come our way

This morning I’m not going to share the Christmas story in a traditional way. We won’t be reading from Matthew or Luke, but we will take an even broader look at God’s gifts given during Christmas and beyond. Won’t you take out your Bible and turn to with me as we begin our study.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ( NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." Oh if we could remember this profound statement each and every day when we crawl out of bed and begin our day then our days would be filled with wonder and awe my friends. The heaviness that so many experience would be lifted by the gracious gratitude that comes from understanding that everything in life is gift from Almighty God. The emptiness that so many experience would be filled with a fullness beyond measure. The grumbling and griping that so readily flows from our mouths would be transformed into words of gratitude to the Lord.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ( NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." Oh if we could remember this profound statement each and every day when we crawl out of bed and begin our day then our days would be filled with wonder and awe my friends. The heaviness that so many experience would be lifted by the gracious gratitude that comes from understanding that everything in life is gift from Almighty God. The emptiness that so many experience would be filled with a fullness beyond measure. The grumbling and griping that so readily flows from our mouths would be transformed into words of gratitude to the Lord.

Love..

WE SHOUD BE DEMONSTRATING LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER ALL YEAR. WE SHOULD BE HOSPITABLE TO OTHERS ALL YEAR. WE SHOULD BE FORGIVING TO OTHERS ALL YEAR. WE SHOULD BE HARMONIOUS WITH EACH OTHER ALL YEAR. WE SHOULD BE PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER ALL YEAR. TEACHES, "IF IT BE POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS LIETH IN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN." , "A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YE ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER." , USE HOSPITALITY ONE TO ANOTHER WITHOUT GRUDGING."

I STATED PREVIOUSLY THAT HIS COMING PROVIDES US WITH A GLIMPSE OF HIS PURPOSE. FIRST, HIS PURPOSE WAS TO PURCHASE US BACK UNTO HIMSELF. THE TEXT SAYS, HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. THIS WAS PRIMARILY DIRECTED AT THE JEWS, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE, IT APPLIES TO US. SECOND, HIS PAIN. THE REDEMPTION PROCESS WAS PAINFUL FOR JESUS. , "SAYING, THE SON OF MAN MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS, AND BE REJECTED OF THE ELDERS AND CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES, AND BE SLAIN, AND BE RAISED THE THIRD DAY." THIRD, HIS PASSION. , "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS."

WE OUGHT TO THANK GOD THAT HE CAME:

THE SKEPTICS DOUBTED THAT HE WOULD COME, BUT HE CAME.

THE HYPOCRITES HOPED THAT HE WOULD NOT COME, BUT HE CAME.

THE AGNOSTICS DENIED THE THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD COME, BUT HE CAME.

THE IDEALIST THOUGHT THAT HE DIDN’T NEED TO COME, BUT HE CAME.

THE DEVIL TRIED TO HINDER HIM, BUT HE CAME.

IT’S NOT ABOUT SHINING LIGHTS, BUT ABOUT JESUS, FOR HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, BUT ABOUT JESUS. IT’S NOT ABOUT SANTA CLAUS, BUT ABOUT JESUS.

WHO ELSE COULD:

LOVE THE UNLOVEABLE, NOBODY BUT JESUS.

REDEEM THE UNREDEEMABLE, NOBODY BUT JESUS

PARDON THE UNPARDONABLE, NOBODY BUT JESUS

COULD BE YONGER THAN HIS EARTHLY MOTHER, AND AS OLD AS HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, NOBODY BUT JESUS.

COULD TURN SINNERS INTO SAINTS, NOBODY BUT JESUS.

CAN TURN MIDNIGHTS INTO DAYLIGHT, NOBODY BUT JESUS.

CAN LOOK BEYOND MY FAULTS AND MEET MY NEEDS, NOBODY BUT JESUS.

COULD HANG ON THE CROSS, DIE AND GET BACK UP, NOBODY BUT JESUS.

CAN PREPARE A PLACE FOR ME, NOBODY BUT JESUS.