Since people are bustling around getting ready for Christmas, you would expect a blog about Christmas. It is, but in quite a different way.
Did you guess Mt. Everest was the tallest mountain? It is from sea level to summit. However, measuring from base to summit, Mauna Kea 1 on Hawaii’s big island is the tallest mountain at 33,500’.
How about the smallest insect? Measuring only 0.0005“ long, it is the tiny parasitic wasp, also known as the fairyfly. 2 Then there is the snowflake. Do you believe that all snowflakes are different? Is so, you would be correct. Since each snowflake is different the number of variations is infinite. 3 All these are things we can see. Well, at least with a magnifying glass.
HOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS?
Hold on, we’re getting there. At Christmas we give gifts to those we love, don’t we? Could the mountain, fairyfly and the snowflake be gifts of love? If so, how?
MAUNA KEA
Look at Mauna Kea. Imagine if humans had to build it. The strength and intellect to do so is inconceivable. God gave us the gift of the mountain as a loving reminder of His strength and intellect. We can have faith that the Lord who has the strength and intellect to build a mountain, has the strength and intellect to overcome any foe. Just like He used those traits to build a mountain, in His love for us, He will use them to conquer our enemies.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us,
Romans 8:37
FAIRYFLY
What about the sharp vision needed to put together a fairyfly? We may need a magnifying glass and special tools to accomplish that, but not the Lord. The loving gift of the fairyfly is a reminder that the Lord who can knit together a tiny fairyfly has eyesight sharp enough to see even things that are hidden. In His love for us, His sharp vision sees everything as He watches over us.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him,
2 Chronicles 16:9a
SNOWFLAKE
There must be an incalculable number of snowflakes every year, yet it was important enough to God to create different details in each and every snowflake. How much more, are we important to Him? God’s loving gift of the detailed snowflake reminds us how much the tiny details of our lives are important to Him, even the number of hairs on our heads.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Do not fear therefore;
you are of more value than many sparrows,
Luke 12:7
We are surrounded by demonstrations of God’s love in His bountiful gifts including:
The fragrance of 400,000 flowering plants 4
The taste of 101 spices and herbs 5
The sight of 10 million colors 6
The sound of music.
These things and all creation were done with an artist eye for balance, beauty and detail. Why? They are all reminders of His loving presence given in physical gifts of love for us, His children, to enjoy.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!
God’s love doesn’t stop there. At Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift of God’s love, sending His son, Jesus, to be born and save us from our sins. So, ultimately, Christmas is a demonstration of God’s love.
And she, (Mary), will bring forth a Son,
and you shall call His name Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sin,
Matthew 1:21
When Jesus came to earth, He could have come as a conquering king. However, He chose to demonstrate His love by entering this life as we have and experiencing it as we do.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are,
yet without sin,
Hebrews 4:15
This physical demonstration of God’s love would have been seen by those who witnessed Jesus’ birth, His ministry and sacrifice for our sins. Although we were not there to see it, by faith we believe in Jesus’ birth, sacrifice and God’s love. People without faith often assume we can’t physically see and feel God’s love today. But just like we can feel a wet snowflake, hear music, see a mountain or God’s written word, we can witness the gift of God’s loving presence.
AS WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS,
LET’S REMEMBER GOD’S GREATEST GIFT OF LOVE
AND HIS LOVE
THAT SURROUNDS
US EVERY DAY.
REFLECTION
Look around, what gifts of God’s love do you see?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Romans 10:9 and say it aloud, open my eyes to see Your gifts of love, especially the gift of Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.
BY FAITH RECEIVE GOD’S GIFT OF LOVE
For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
1 oceanservice.noaa.gov
2 entomology.unl.edo
3 ssec.si.edu
4 eol.org
5 tasteatlas.com
6 Color-meaning.com
