Your Morning Coffee 12/07/2023

Good morning!

Welcome to your morning coffee! May our Heavenly Father remind us of what is so great about the first coming of His son Jesus. Father, you loved the world in this wonder-full way, that you sent your son Jesus, (God with us), to save us from the worst possible fate. And to welcome us into the best possible future, eternity with you. May our abundant life not be a thing of the future, but also right now. May our lives be guarded by your peace, covered with your grace, sustained by your love, and guided by your Spirit. In the name of your son Jesus, help us to be mindful of Him during this season of busyness! Amen.

Your Morning Song: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" by Chris Tomlin

Your Morning Scripture: Matthew 1:23

"Behold, the virgin shall concieve and bear a son,

and they shall call His name Immanuel."

(which means, God with us).

...

"What is the greatest Christmas gift ever?"

I've asked this question of my kids before, enough that they laugh and shout the answer, "Jesus!"

But why? Why is Jesus the greatest gift?

In answering this question, it will also help us to better understand what it means to have been saved by Him as well. A welcome by-product to say the least.

If Jesus saves us from sin and its rightful wages, death, He saves us from a bad thing. Great! Then what? Does He walk away? Does He leave us alone to figure it out? Does He abandon us?

No. He saves us from death, and then welcomes us into the presence of our Heavenly Father, into the Kingdom of God. The salvation Jesus offers us is from bad (apart-ness from God forever), but also into the greatest possible good, close, intimate relationship with God forever.

Jesus Himself is the greatest gift. Because we get Him. He did what He did so that we could do what would have been impossible to do without Him. We get Jesus as our brother, the firstborn from amongst the dead. Because of Him we now have our Father in Heaven. And because of Him God the Holy Spirit lives inside of us.

God is with us, because of Jesus. There is no greater gift than God Himself. Even our salvation from sin is not great because of what we are saved from alone, but how much more so because of what we receive. God Himself, in the flesh.

Jesus Himself is the greatest gift. May we pray in His name. May we eat His words in the Word. May we speak out and live out His Gospel. And rejoice at the family He was welcomed us into, to be with Him, forever.

And may this reminder bring us peace and contentment this Christmas season, no matter what.