"O love, how deep, how broad, how high, Beyond all thought and fantasy, That God, the Son of God, should take Our mortal form for mortals' sake!
"For us by wickedness betrayed, For us in crowns of thorns arrayed, He bore the shameful cross and death; For us He gave His dying breath."
Have you ever searched for the perfect gift, perhaps for Christmas, an anniversary, or a birthday? When the special day arrives, the gift is carefully wrapped and proudly labeled, "For you." Our hymn describes a gift "beyond all thought and fantasy," the gift that God gave to us on the first Christmas. It is the perfect gift, one that we could not imagine, that God, the Son of God, would be born in "our mortal form."
This wondrous gift was planned before the world was created and first promised in Eden. Down through the centuries in the inspired words of the prophets, God revealed hints about His gift. The prophet Isaiah foretold to whom the gift would be given: "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
When the right time came, God the Son took onto Himself "our mortal form for mortals' sake." He became one of us, for us. When the promised Child arrived, an angel announced Him as a gift—so carefully wrapped!—for us all: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10b-12). If there had been a gift tag on the manger in which our Savior lay, it would have been addressed "For you!"
This gift of God "for mortals' sake" continued beyond the Savior's birth. For us He was betrayed into the hands of wicked men. For us He was crowned with thorns and endured a shameful death on the cross. For us Jesus yielded up His last breath as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. All of this was done "for mortals' sake," for sinners who deserved no gift, who deserved only God's wrath and condemnation. Yet Jesus died for sinners, for us. For us He rose from death and He is coming again to take us to Himself. We will live in His presence in a Kingdom beyond all thought and fantasy, the Kingdom prepared for us!
WE PRAY: Lord God, thank You for giving us the greatest gift, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "O Love, How Deep," which is number 544 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you have a favorite occasion for buying someone a gift (anniversary, Christmas, birthday, confirmation, etc.)? Why?
2. How is God's gift to us in Jesus the greatest gift of all?
3. How many ways can you think of to share God's gift with others?
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 10-12 John 3:1-15
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