When we consider the birth of Christ, an often-overlooked event is that of the birth and ministry of John the Baptist. Matthew, using a quotes from Isaiah 40:3, said of him, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight’” (Matthew 3:3). But did you know that this prophecy given long before John would come into history, was also meant for Israel of old? It is the period of Babylonian captivity (586-537 B.C.), when Jerusalem was destroyed and only a remnant remained of God’s people. Israel as it was known is completely conquered and the temple where God was once present is destroyed. We read that “the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city” (Ezekiel 11:23). Isaiah speaks of a time when “He [Jehovah] is returning to Jerusalem with His people after an absence of fifty years, the period of captivity” (Homer Hailey). As rebellious as God’s people can be, and for that matter, mankind itself, God is always proclaiming a message of hope.

            The ministry of John the Baptist would be simple, to prepare the way of the Lord. Mark’s gospel adds something from Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You” (Mark 1:2). He would be an extraordinary man who would enter this world in an unordinary way, using ordinary people. Let us consider the gift of John the Baptist.

“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard…’” (Luke 1:13)

            What prayer? To answer that, we need to look further into the life of Zacharias. He was a priest of the division of Abijah (v5). He was married to Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Aaron, making her of priestly decent like her husband. Both lived a godly life “walking in the commandments and the ordinances of the Lord” blamelessly (1:6). Sadly though, they had no children because “Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years” (1:7). Like Sarai (Sarah) in Genesis 11:30, Elizabeth was sterile, unable to have children. Some believe that this was the prayer that was answered and it could be. But the angel said “your prayer is heard” suggesting that Zacharias was at this time praying, which would make the idea of it being for a son unlikely, for they were well past that time. Many believe that what he was praying for was the “deliverance of Israel by the Messiah” (Benson) and “the kingdom of God might come” (Elliott). What we do know is that he was “troubled, and fear fell upon him” (Luke 1:12). The angel assures him there is no need to be afraid. God has heard your prayer.

“…and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” (Luke 1:13b-14)

            So, what prayer was heard? The angel makes it clear that both past and present have been heard. Your wife will have a son! You shall call him John, from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning God is gracious. Of course, the stigma of being childless will be lifted through this gracious gift from God. But Luke focuses on something else concerning this gift. The angel says that “many will rejoice at his birth” (1:14). Why? “He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16). Imagine hearing that about your child. The angel goes on to say, “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The Messiah they have anticipated for so long, have taught about for hundreds of years, will be ushered into this world on the heels of your son’s ministry! The world will never be the same and the gift of your son is part of it all. The prophets of old spoke of him and now he is coming.

            Zacharias response is filled with doubt, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18). Even the godly struggle with God’s promises at times. God would make him mute, unable to speak until the eighth day after the birth of his son, when he wrote on a tablet “His name is John” (Luke 1:20, 63). The gift was given, a son who would bring joy to Zacharias and Eliabeth while, at the same time be God’s servant to prepare the way for the Messiah, something God’s people had anticipated for so long and the world needed so desperately. Thank You Lord for bringing John into history and having him prepare the way for us to hear the gospel.

What is the greatest gift God has given to man? I believe it to be the gift of forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. This gift was costly! Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The gift was willingly offered to sinners. Those who are enemies of God (Romans 5:10)! Still, God gave His only Son for all mankind in hopes that through faith they might be reconciled back to Him through forgiveness. It is the Christ child that was born for the purpose that He might bear “our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1^st Peter 2:24). That is nothing short of amazing grace. He loves His creation that much (John 3:16). This act of forgiveness is at the very core of hope! There is no life outside of it!

            This profound gift was never meant to be kept to ourselves. God yearns for us to practice forgiveness here in this broken world of ours. Jesus taught, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15). Our willingness to embrace this teaching has eternal ramifications. But this is not something that God wants us to do grudgingly. You may say, “But you do not know what they did to me! How much it hurt!” Although true, one must ask the question, “Do I want to be free from the past or in bondage to it?” I believe forgiveness to be God’s way of empowering us to be free from the past and thus enabling us to love a lost and dying world like He does. We begin with a familiar parable.

“And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.” (Matthew 18:24)

            Know Your Debt – Listen to what Jesus is going to conclude, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18:35). What will He do? Imprison those who are unforgiving (Matthew 18:34). Why would He do this? Back to the parable we go. It begins with a question from Peter, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). Great question. So, Jesus talks about a servant, as noted above, that owed a great debt. A debt that was IMPOSSIBLE to pay back. Spiritually speaking, does that sound familiar? The king decided to “settle accounts” and this servant came before him. Overwhelmed by his plight, the servant begs, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all” (Matthew 18:26). A promise he could never keep, and the king knew it. The king “was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt” (Matthew 18:27). The impossible burden was lifted, no longer to hover over him or his family. Freedom! His response to this gift of forgiveness, to go and find someone who owes him far less and demand payment from him. And when he could not pay the debt, he threw his fellow servant in prison. The point, “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (Matthew 18:33). Paul said it simply, “Forgive others because the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13, ETRV). Easier said than done, right? So how are we to do what seems at times to be impossible?

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times’” (Matthew 18:22)

            Seek His Help – This is the Lord’s answer to Peter’s question which is then followed by the parable. How many times do I forgive someone? The number Jesus gives is not intended to be taken literally; rather, to show that like His forgiveness, it must be offered continuously. In Luke 17:1-4 Jesus is found teaching something similar and it challenged His apostle so much so that they said, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). I think of the garden as Jesus prayed just before the cross, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Forgiveness is costly! Jesus knew this more than anyone. Paul writes, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2^nd Corinthians 5:21). Knowing the arduous task before Him, Jesus prays to the Father. We read that an angel appeared and strengthened Him (Luke 22:43). Forgiveness is not easy! We need the Father’s help if we are going to be forgiving like He is. I am convinced that if we seek Him, He will provide that help. Through His word, His church, or the Spirit within. It may seem impossible, but not when He is on our side.

            Forgiveness is a gift that is meant to keep on giving. As we walk in His light, He graciously forgives us of all our sins.  As we walk in His light, He willingly provides us with the strength to forgive like Him. One final question, why is forgiveness so important for us to offer? Yes, it has eternal consequences if we do not. But I also know from personal experience, the lack of a forgiving heart only cultivates bitterness. Bitterness only causes trouble in our lives to the point of even defiling the child of God (Hebrews 12:15). Teach us Lord to forgive like You and protect our hearts from the decay of bitterness.

What is the good news about? Giving us a better life here? Helping us to become better individuals? The list of things that God’s word can do for us is profound. But if we were to simplify what the good news is about, it would be about relationship; that is, man’s relationship with his God. While in the home of Zacchaeus, Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:9-10). Did you know the Greek word translated “salvation” means rescue or safety. Rescue from what? Sin! Paul would proclaim, “For we previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9). This sin problem he speaks of enslaves mankind and without a solution, it leads to death (Romans 6:16). Those with this sin problem, left unresolved, will one day face the ultimate consequence of eternal separation from God (2^nd Thessalonians 1:9-10). Christ is the only solution to our sin problem, making the gospel genuinely good news!

            For those of us in Christ, it is easy for the good news to lose it…well…good news. The enthusiasm seen in the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39), which I know I felt many years ago, slowly becomes part of our past. We so often find ourselves seeing life, not through Him, but through our day-to-day lives. Lives that find us still struggling with sin and at times doubting the good news. His forgiveness can seem so fleeting at times, which is why we need to lean on the confidence that His word can bring. So today, let us be reminded of His forgiveness.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1^st John 1:7)

            Let me guess, you find the beginning of this verse difficult. You question, “Am I walking in the light if sin is in my life?” You would be right; this does speak of a people who are seeking to “lead lives of holiness and purity” if sin does not concern them. You cannot lay claim to forgiveness if you are choosing sin over Christ continuously. John said it this way, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1^st John 1:6). Paul exhorted the church in Colossae, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6). But who is perfect, achieving a place in their walk where Christ is no longer needed, where sin is no longer evidenced in their lives in any way? NO ONE! John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1^st John 1:8). God knows we will struggle with sin, which is why we are promised that Christ will cleanse “us from all sin.” Let us build on this idea.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1^st John 1:9)

            I have often struggled with change in my life largely because I lack honesty. Let me make a distinction between two types of honesty. There is the kind that beats us up and promotes doubt of God’s mercy and grace. Then there is honesty that enters God’s presence with humility, seeking mercy and strength to overcome those things that displease Him. Confess here simply means to acknowledge. Confession is another way of saying, “I NEED You Lord!” The writer of Hebrews says it this way, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Your translation may use the word confidence rather than boldly. The Greek word speaks of assurance. Assurance in what? That we will obtain (lay hold of) mercy (compassion) and grace to help us in our time of need. The One who cleanses us from all sin knows the struggle we have with sin. He is “faithful” to His promise to wash us clean of all sin! Through Christ God can “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). This is the promise we have through the sufficient work of Christ on the cross.

            As I close out this article, I do so with a bible verse that many here are familiar with. It is found in Psalm 103:12 and it says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Through the sufficient work of Christ, God has opened the doorway to hope through redemption. He knows of our imperfection; that is, sinful battles. Be open and honest as you walk in His light and He will continuously wash you clean. That is the ongoing gift of forgiveness.

When we talk about the Holy Spirit, many get uncomfortable in large part because the subject is often misunderstood and falsely presented. As such, we frequently find ourselves avoiding the subject all together, which is unfortunate. As we continue our journey concerning thankfulness, I thought we would consider the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here are some interesting things to know about the Spirit of God. In Genesis 1:2 we find that just before creation came to be, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Joseph, the son of Jacob, is said to have “the Spirit of God” in him which gave him wisdom (Genesis 41:38). Others like Joshua (Numbers 27:18), David (1^st Samuel 16:13) and even King Saul (1^st Samuel 10:10) are just a few whom the Holy Spirit worked in and through in the Old Testament.

Of course, we are more familiar with the Spirit’s activity in the New Testament stories we read about. How He empowered the apostles to speak in different languages so the gospel could be understood in Acts 2. The very Spirit, the Comforter or Helper, was promised to the apostles by Jesus so they could speak all truth to a lost and dying world (John 14:26; 16:13). But what about you and me?

We read of what the Holy Spirit has done, but what does He do now in the lives of those in Christ. You see, the gift of the Holy Spirit was not just for them, He is for us as well.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…” (Ephesians 1:13)

            If you are in Christ, you have been given the gift of the seal of the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke of this to the church in Corinth as well, saying, “Now He…who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2^nd Corinthians 1:21-22). In the Ephesians text, the word sealed comes from a Greek word that means to stamp for security or preservation. Sealed for what? The next verse explains that the Holy Spirit, “is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14). Your translation may use the word pledge which is defined as the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest. There is a saying that goes like this, “There are no guarantees in life.” Clearly that is far from the truth when it comes to God and salvation. God says to all those who are in Christ, “I’ve got it! My Son is enough!” John would write to those in Christ to have confidence, saying in part that they can “know that you have eternal life” (1^st John 5:13). If you are in Christ, walking with Christ as imperfectly as it may be at times, you have God’s guarantee that will keep you until His return. As amazing as that is, there is more to this gift of the Holy Spirit.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)

            Remember what Paul said that God has “given us the Spirit in our hearts” (2^nd Corinthians 1:22). For a matter of fact, in 1^st Corinthians 6:19 Paul pronounces that our bodies are “the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.” To think that part of the Godhead lives in each Christian is mind blowing. One of His purposes within us is to help communicate our needs to the Father. The word translated help means to co-operate with during our times of weakness; that is, frailty. As one person writes, the Holy Spirit helps to sustain and support us during such times of difficulty. He helps us as we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). When life is in turmoil and words cannot be found, the Holy Spirit is there to help you pray “with groanings which cannot be uttered.” How does that work? Honestly, I do not have the answer, but I do have the promise given. The Holy Spirit will help us to communicate with God during those times. Like Paul who prayed for the thorn to be removed but came to realize through prayer that “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2^nd Corinthians 12:10).

            So last week we looked at the gift of God’s word. Today we have considered the gift of the Holy Spirit within us that was provided through Christ when we obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38). That Spirit is a guarantee of what we will one day receive as He comes to bring us home. That same Spirit also resides within us to help us in our walk with Christ, realizing that it is not always easy. Thank You Lord for providing us with your Spirit.

What are some of the greatest gifts you have ever received? For me, one of those gifts would be the pocket watch my oldest son gave me many years ago. He had it inscribed on the front saying, “Forever in Christ” and on the back “Your Son, Brother, Love Matt.” That gift means a lot to me. I suspect most of us have received a gift that truly touched us in a special way.

            When it comes to Christianity, the list of things we have been given are truly life changing. Of course, the greatest gift of all is Christ who makes all other gifts from God possible. For instance, in Christ we have received “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Peter says that because of “His divine power” we have been “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2^nd Peter 1:3). Think about it, God has given to us “every” and “all” things we could possibly need spiritually through Christ. Those things become ours because of “the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2^nd Peter 1:3). This “knowledge” finds its birth through the proclamation of the gospel, but it does not end there. The Word of God not only seeks to save the lost, but to transform the saved into the image of His Son. I think it would be fair to say then, that one of the greatest gifts mankind has ever received is the Word of God, our bibles.

“But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” (John 6:68)

            Many of the Jews were wrestling with the things Jesus claimed about Himself. Just prior to this verse He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:41). He responds to their complaining with some teaching about Himself that even caused greater difficulty, resulting in even some of His disciples to turn away from Him (John 6:66). Jesus then asks the twelve apostles, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67). It is in this setting that the response from Peter is given, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Each of us, whether it be the pages of our bibles we hold in our hands or on the screen of our devices, have access to this precious gift. Words that changed an Ethiopian’s life forever after Philip preached Jesus to him (Acts 8). Words that would catapult a wayward sinner from “the power of darkness…into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). Words that would enable the converted to “be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2^nd Peter 1:4). These words are “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Truly Lord, to whom shall we go? He alone have the words of eternal life.

            As beautiful as the gift of eternal life is, that Word provides us with even more. Tell me if this makes sense to you. Eternal life is not something we simply receive, but it is something we live; that is, I live for Him because He has given me “life in His name” (John 20:31). With a life now dedicated to Him for what He has done, we endeavor to “find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10). It is His word, our bibles, that He has given to us, that enables us to do this very thing. It is His word, as was mentioned earlier, that gives us everything we could need to live for Him (2^nd Peter 1:3). It is His word that opens the potential within us all by equipping us “for every good work” (2^nd Timothy 3:17). It is through this transformation process that we can “know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect” (Romans 12:2, ETRV).

            This is the beautiful gift of God’s word. It has the potential of not only changing the course of eternity, but also the course of our lives here on earth. Outside of the gift of Christ on the cross and the power of His resurrection, I can think of no greater gift offered to mankind. As I close these thoughts, I would like to share something from David found in Psalm 138:2, “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” Help us Lord to magnify Your word as well. For You alone have the words of eternal life and You alone can guide us to our fullest potential. Praise be to the God who offers such gifts.