For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:  Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Each Christmas season we see manger scenes all around us – in our neighborhoods, on Christmas cards, and during our church’s Christmas Eve service.  But do we truly see the love and kindness behind the manger scene?  I’d like you to take a moment to ponder just how much love went into God’s plan of salvation.

We can’t begin to comprehend the depth of this kind of love, can we?  It’s greater than any love we have ever known.  God didn’t want heaven without us, so He made a way for us to spend eternity with Him – to be His family.

While many of us have loving families on this earth, others struggle with these relationships.  As a result, they may not feel as loved this Christmas season as they would like.  Their sense of value and worth has been shaken.

If this is where you find yourself today, I want to encourage you to take a fresh look at the lavish gift you have been given.  I want you to realize just how precious and important you are to your Heavenly Father.

May each of us look at this Christmas season, not only with eyes that see the manger scene, but also with hearts full of gratitude for the love and kindness God bestowed upon us when He gave us Jesus – the gift of heaven.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  Titus 3:4-5 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall have eternal life.  John 3:16 (NIV)