I read several years ago about a woman who hurriedly purchased 50 Christmas card without looking at the message inside. She quickly signed and addressed all but one, and then dropped them in a mailbox. Just imagine her dismay when later she glanced inside the one unmailed card and read these words:

This card is just to say a little gift is on the way.

No doubt there were 49 people wondering what happened to their presents.

How different was God’s promise to us! Many people before the Saviour was born, the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, saying, ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel’. and ‘For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.’ Did God keep His word? Indeed He did! Galatians 4:4 staes, ‘But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son.’

On this special day, as we commemorate the birth of Christ, let’s thank God that He meant what He said. He not only promised, but He also gave. ‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’

- Richard Dee Haan

On Christmas morning long ago,
Into this world of sin and wor
The blessed Saviour came;
God’s wondrous gift of love was He,
God’s gift to lost humanity –
O glory to His name!

No gift is more needed by a dying world than a living Saviour.

Isaiah 9:1-7

The Government of the Promised Son

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,

As when at first He lightly esteemed

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

And afterward more heavily oppressed her,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

In Galilee of the Gentiles.

2 The people who walked in darkness

Upon them a light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation

And increased its joy;

They rejoice before You

According to the joy of harvest,

As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden

And the staff of his shoulder,

The rod of his oppressor,

As in the day of Midian.

5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,

And garments rolled in blood,

Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.