Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given."
The wonderful gift has been given to us on the very first Christmas. It wasn't wrapped in pretty paper and silk ribbons, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It's amazing how so much can be placed in such a tiny package.
In the tiny package of Love the Father gave to us on that first Christmas, there are so many gifts for all who will receive them. Some hate to spoil the beauty of the gift by removing the wrappings and trimmings. Many still think of this gift as a small newborn lying in a manger, like when God gave the gift. And many others still don't receive the gift in all that it is.
This Christmas gift was all inclusive in its purpose and the unwrapping is a continuous thing. I've been unwrapping all of the gifts and blessing that came in this small package for forty years. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) was revealed to me during the unwrapping saying, "He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace." All these things were encapsulated in the tiny Baby in the manger.
As I continued unwrapping, I found in John 1:16-17 (Amplified) how from this tiny Baby, "Out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 goes on, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ."
The first Christmas gift to us is a gift that can never be exhausted in its giving. However long you have this gift, it's always new and is revealing new things in its giving. Many of us have simply removed the swaddling rags and haven't delved deeper into the package. We can't simply untie the ribbons and remove the wrappings, we must open the box to see all it contains.
Some wrap smaller gifts individually in tissue paper and then place them in the same package. My wife likes to do this in order to create many surprises for the person unwrapping that gift. She places tissue paper around several individual gifts so that they have to be unwrapped separately. It was fun watching my young children's surprised elation when opening the package that held many smaller gifts.
If they had just opened the package without searching through the tissue paper, then they would have only found the presents that were readily available. But, if they began seeking farther into the package, then they would find new and exciting things. The deeper they dug into the package, the more they found. Proverbs 2:3-5 (Amplified) tells us, "Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understand, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and Godly wisdom as for hidden treasure, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God."
The deeper you dig into the package, the more gifts you find. They were always there, you just had to seek beyond the wrapping. The small Christmas package placed in a manger contains the good things of our loving Father to bring delight, blessings and joy to His children for eternity.
We've had mixed and sometimes heated discussions about this small package in the manger. Some have only admired the wrappings and trimmings without ever opening the package. Some unwrapped the package, but never looked inside to see what it contained. Others have unwrapped and looked inside the package, but never sought as far as the treasure told. No matter how long or how deep you dig into this package, you will always find new and untold riches.
Some people believe this package came to bring entry into God's house at the time of their leaving earth. Some of us have looked deeper inside the package and have found the gift of grace that brings forth salvation. Some place the package on display once a year and then put it into storage for the rest of the remainder of the year. Some are satisfied with letting others open the gift and relate what's inside instead of seeing for themselves.
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