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John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Over the holidays, people gift all kinds of elaborately packaged gourmet candies to others for Christmas. But, often, doesn't it seem like the fancier it comes the less flavorful it gets? Conversely, the iconic Hershey's Kiss is 100% pure chocolate that comes simply wrapped in a tiny bit of foil. Yet, it always delivers total satisfaction, and for chocolate lovers, it's always a delectable delight.
Similarly, God could have gifted us the baby Jesus in an elaborate manner. The infant could've been born in a palace, swaddled in fine linens, and placed on display for visitors to catch a glimpse of the newborn king. But, He didn't. God birthed Him in a smelly manger, wrapped Him in common cloth, and placed Him in a feeding trough where lowly shepherds were given VIP access to bow before the King of Kings.
This is a wonderful reminder of the symbolism and importance of God's chosen method to present His greatest gift - Jesus Christ! Our Savior didn't need elaborate packaging. He wasn't some momentary must-see attraction laying in a golden cradle. No, Christ was and is the 100% pure, real deal who always delivers delicious, never-ending satisfaction to those who delight in Him.
Today, carve out a few moments to truly reflect on the original Nativity scene, the symbolism, and the ultimate importance of receiving God's greatest gift.
Heavenly Father, I couldn't be more grateful for Your priceless gift. Thank You for Your unending grace and constant presence. In Jesus' name, Amen.