John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

DAILY READING Acts 5:1-16; Deuteronomy 23-24; Job 15

Today, the Statue of Liberty is perhaps the most recognized American symbol of hope and freedom. It is indeed interesting that the Statue, located in New York, was actually a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. In a ceremony held in Paris in 1884, the completed Statue of Liberty was formally presented to the U.S. by France and was dedicated later on October 28, 1886.
The Statue of Liberty has a woman holding a torch in her right hand high above her head, and in her left hand carrying a tabula ansata (tablet with handle) on which is inscribed the date of the US Declaration of Independence, which was July 4, 1776. A broken chain lies at her feet as she walks forward, indicating freedom.
To the United States, this statue is one of the greatest gifts she has ever received from any nation. Its message reflects the very heart of the American dream, which is freedom for all. It is a gift which the US continues to celebrate. Today the statue has become an icon of freedom in the United States and a national park tourist destination. Indeed, it is a gift that continues to be appreciated more than a century after it was received.
However, while the statue may represent liberty to Americans, there is a far greater and incomparable gift which has truly brought freedom and liberty to all mankind.
It is God’s greatest gift to us in the person of Jesus Christ. He is not just an icon, He is our spiritual liberty and eternal freedom. 2000 years ago through the tender mercy of God, the Dayspring from on high visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. God presented to the world a Baby born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem. This Baby brought light into a spiritually dark world. He is the light that lights every man that comes into the world. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And this light shines in darkness, and the darkness cannot comprehend it.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God gave His only Son, born in a humble stable, to shed His blood on the cross as redemption for us. We were doomed to die in our sin, forever separated from God. But Jesus went to the cross and took upon Himself the sin of the world, and saved mankind from wrath. He came and redeemed us, so that we can now be called the sons of God.
Today at Christmas, we celebrate that the Almighty, Glorious God became a man, taking on the limitations of time and space, that we might behold and receive His glory.
And while Christmas is a time of giving of gifts, at the heart of Christmas is the fact that God gave us the greatest gift of all, which is the gift of a Savior. Without this gift we had no hope, but through Him, today every chain of captivity has been broken off us and we are able to serve and worship God in spirit and in truth. Through His blood we have been washed from sin and now have the victory over hell and its horde. Today, we celebrate the birth of this Savior, our Lord and Redeemer, our eternal hope of salvation and our help from ages past. He is indeed the greatest gift of all.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank You for the gift of Jesus that You gave unto me to save me from sin and unrighteousness. I thank You because through Your priceless gift of the Savior, I have eternal victory today and always, in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
Praise always guarantees you power for a raise. Learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.