A Heavy Gift

As we wind our way through each of these days, we need to remember to approach each day's gifts with fresh eyes.  Each gift has a special message from our True Love to our heart.  He would have us realize that all He offers us are, indeed, gifts from His heart to ours.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens,

 French hens are known for their gentleness. 
These hens were destined to die for the benefit of others.

Oh my!  Do we need say more?  
Who comes immediately to mind in response to such clear descriptions?

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” Matthew 21:5

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His Name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”  Mark 8:31

Our True Love is so tenderhearted toward us.  He set His privileged position aside for us and even now gives His full attention to us.  The Lover of our souls is ever present no matter how the scenes of our life change.

The number three represents divine completeness.

            “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

            “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  Matthew 28:19

Our God is complete within Himself.

Now let's read Isaiah 53:4-5, and 10 carefully and listen to what the Spirit speaks to our spirit!  I would highly encourage you to read the entire chapter.  There is so much hidden in each verse!

"Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.  But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering...As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities." 

Is this heavy stuff for a Christmas devotional?  Do we expect such gifts at Christmas?  This is truly what He came to give us!  Heavy, yes, but such an exquisite gift!

            “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you,, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30