"Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

God entered into our humanity, and became a human being in Jesus, to restore us to our full humanity, to restore the image of God in us, through his life, death and resurrection. Jesus came to reunite us with God through communion with the Father. The Savior came to reconcile us to God and to one another, to heal us from all our afflictions, to deliver us from our sins, to empower us to live a new, holy and happy life. He came to live with us, through us, and for us. The Divine became human to further God's plans for the universe, to reunite the temporal to the eternal, to restore meaning and purpose to our lives, to elevate the moral over the immoral, the virtues over the vices, the creative over the destructive, the nurturing over the parasitical, the fruitful over the barren, peace over conflict, harmony over division, cooperation over contention, forgiveness over resentment, the reign of the good over the reign of evil.

This is the significance of the coming of Christ. All this is wrapped up in the person of Jesus. All this is potentially ours when we receive the gift of Christ the Lord. God's intention is that we find in Christ's life completion, fulfillment, wholeness, joy, and peace. "To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

He is the Gift of God. When he met the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (John 4:10) If you know the gift of God that is in Jesus, you would receive him more and more into your life, so that he can give you the living water that satisfies and quenches your thirst for happiness.

No other gift compares with this gift. This is the gift, not of a Great Idea, or of a prophetic teaching, or of a moral exhortation, but the gift of a real flesh and blood person who extends to you an authentic relationship. He comes with the gift of his genuine interest, his sincere concern, his sympathetic care. The gift of God in Jesus is such a gift - the richest and most fulfilling of relationships. It is the gift of the Divine One who comes alongside you as a constant companion, and the closest of friends, to support you and to encourage you at all times, so that you need never be alone or bereft. He is the Bridegroom who is always loving the Bride - his people. God in Christ marries us for good or ill, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. He is there when you need him. He is there to listen to you when you need to talk, to guide you when you need direction, to counsel you when you are perplexed, to put his arms around you when you fail, to pick you up off the ground when you fall. Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is no comparable substitute for this gift. The gift of money cannot replace this gift. I knew a young man who was home for Christmas from college. His father was always busy working, or playing golf, or watching football, or going to the racetrack, or socializing with his buddies. He never had much time for his only son, who was trying to live up to his father's expectations, but who was making education a high priority. His father, always busy with his interests, and seemingly self-absorbed, never bothered to buy gifts for anyone. He always carried a roll of money in his pocket. That Christmas he shoved a bundle of notes into his son's hands and said, "Happy Christmas." But the son in frustration at his father's attitude, and longing for his father to take an interest in him, threw the money back in his face, saying, "Dad, I want you, not your money."

Money is an attempt to buy what only a loving relationship can supply. You cannot buy love, joy and peace. Sonny Von Bulow died on December 6th after being in a coma for 28 years. Her husband, Claus Von Bulow, was accused of trying to kill her in order to inherit much of her wealth. The celebrated defense lawyer, Alan Dershowitz won his acquittal by painting Sonny as an alcoholic and pill popper who drank herself into a coma. The case was made into a film, Reversal of Fortune, starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons. What happened to Sonny Von Bulow, or her husband, with all the wealth at their disposal, that they did not find love, and joy, and peace?

What happens when you love money too much? What happens when your value as a person is tied up with what you have invested in stocks? Is your wellbeing tied up in how much you are financially worth? How does this compare with the gift of God - a gift that pays dividends regularly, whose worth always increases to eternity, whose value is added to every day? Take stock in Immanuel - God with us. The gift of God is worth more than any other investment. You cannot depend on the vagaries of the world financial system, but you can depend on the God of History, the Lord of Hosts, who is working out his purposes in all the circumstances of your lives.

Unwrap his gift. Look at it again. Look at Jesus with new eyes. What do you see? Do you see human life as it is meant to be lived. Do you see eternal life in human form? Do you see a life lived for others? Do you see a life unpreoccupied with material success, whose focus was on other people and their wellbeing?

Do you see a healer, a compassionate lover, a straight-talker, a confronter of pride, prejudice, hypocrisy and self-interest? Do you see a man of principle, prepared to be unpopular, to suffer and to die for what he believed in?

Do you see a man who could read human hearts, who could discern motives, and who could strip away pretense? Do you see a man whom you would want on your side, and you would want to be on his side, if you were able to find the courage to be true, and not a coward at the moment of decision? You would want to stand with him for you know he would want to stand for you. Do you see a man who stands for all that is true, honorable and just; for all that is pure, lovely and gracious; a man who represents all that is excellent and praiseworthy?

This is the gift of God that comes at Christmas. It is a prize beyond compare. This is the pearl of great price. This is the treasure hidden in a field. This gift of God in Jesus the Savior is the Bread of Life, who satisfies the hungry and the thirsty. He is the Light of the World, who gives the light of life. He is the Gate through whom we enter to be saved. He is the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep. He is the Resurrection and the Life: "Whoever lives and believes in me will never die." He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the True Vine through whom we can bear much fruit. What a gift we have been given. Receive Him with gratitude. Value what He gives. Accept the gift of Christmas. We have been given so much. Celebrate by responding with a thankful heart and a consecrated life.

---Ted Schroder's new book, SOLID LOVE, is now available on www.Amazon.com.