Given…For To Us…
Key Text: Isaiah 9:2-7
No matter what you thoughts are about self, whether that is high or low, God wants to be in relationship with you.
Isaiah 9 :6a For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
1.For a gift to do you any good, it has to be unwrapped and received.
2.A gift does not start with the one who gets it but in the mind and heart of the one who wants to give it. Someone who sees a need or wants to bless the other person and thinks they would enjoy it.
These two things are key aspects of the Christmas season:
God saw that we needed something, even when we did not see it ourselves.
Christmas has many wonderful messages but at the very core of it, there is a Someone, God’s personal gift to be personally received by us.
It’s a Personal Gift.
How do you choose a gift? Some people are harder to buy for than others , we think about the person and try to think what they would need or like.
Notice something about the verse in Isaiah – you are the focus, you are the recipient… ‘For unto US a child is born … a Son is given…
1.God chose to give Jesus, so that you could be personally chosen by Him.
Galatians 4:4-7 says: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son and if a son, then an heir through God.
God got the timing right – it had fully come.
God got the gift right, it was perfect – God sent his Son.
God got the wrapping or means right, born of a woman – so He could be one of us.
God got the conditions right – born under the Jewish law so that Jesus could obey perfectly, with no unfair advantage.
God got the recipients right- so that we might receive.
God got the result or effect right – He adopted and redeemed us.
God got the ongoing help right – He sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts.
God got the ongoing relationship right – We cry ‘abba’ Father.
Who would have thought that one gift would have such a large profound effect upon us?
God really wants to choose you Ezekiel 34:11-12 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
God gave Jesus as a person, a child, with all the weaknesses of a child, so that we know that He understands us as a person with all our weaknesses.
Think about it for a moment…for to us a CHILD is born – on the one hand there is nothing more precious than a child to give – God was not holding back.
On the other hand, the idea of God with all His power and wisdom being limited, constrained within a child is one of the most mysterious things about Christianity – God says ‘let me limit myself and become a baby …for you!’
It is a bit of a mystery that is hard to understand but here is the bottom line. God limits Himself so that you and I can know with certainty that He really understands what it is like to be you and the person you are.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
But here is the other thing – despite what you might think are your weaknesses, God can still use you.
Sometimes we have weakness and limitations so that we learn to trust God.
Perhaps you have something today that you wish was not true about you or you wish was not happening – You have some limitations to embrace – Jesus limited Himself so that He can prove to you, that He can help you in your limitations.
Christmas is a time for you to receive…personally. For to Us…Understand that Christ was given to you personally.
There is no one like you that’s why God made you!
Despite what you may know or think you know about you – God continually chooses you.
Question: Could you place your limits and strengths in God’s hands? You will see how He will use you.
God speaks value over you because He did not hold back His most valuable gift, so that He could win His most valuable creation back- that creation is you.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
He came in weakness so that any weakness you have will not stop you knowing Him.
He came personally so that you can know Him personally
Your limits are His opportunity to work through you. So whatever you feel give them to Him.