Prayer and Promises

The Promise 

He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not know Him. Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name. 

— John 1:10,12, MEV 

The Testimony 

The most unspeakable gift which God could bestow upon the world was the gift of his beloved Son. 

He who was one with the Father stepped down from the glorious throne in heaven, laid aside his royal robe and crown, and clothed his divinity with humanity, thus bringing himself to the level of man’s feeble faculties. “For your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” Infinite was the sacrifice on the part of the Father; infinite the sacrifice of the Son! The highest gift that Heaven could bestow was given to ransom fallen humanity. O, what divine benevolence! It would have been far easier to crush the world out of existence than to reform it. But Christ declares, “The Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” 

While all heaven is astir, dispatching messengers to bear the divine will to every part of the earth, they expect the church of the living God also to be co-laborers with Christ. He engages to come into the midst of his church, and to honor their prayers and decisions by the manifestation of his grace and power. 

Let us so manifest our faith and our love for God and the souls of men, that Jesus and his angels can look down from heaven upon us as a people, and bless us upon the coming Christmas and New Year’s. How unworthy we are of all the priceless gifts and the continued mercies with which the Lord blesses us! How marvelous has been the goodness of God to the children of men! And how can we better testify our gratitude to God than by making thank-offerings to him at this Christmas time? 

Go to God for yourselves; the Lord will certainly hear your earnest prayers for wisdom to understand your duty.” If there was more seeking God for heavenly wisdom, and less seeking wisdom from men, there would be far greater light from Heaven, and God would bless the humble seeker. 

Let us show that we appreciate this gift, and respond as far as it is in our power, with thank-offerings. Let us celebrate Christmas by remembering God. 

— The Review and Herald, December 11, 1888 

The Response 

O Lord, how can I show my appreciation for heaven’s most priceless gift, for my sake You became poor. I pray for heavenly wisdom that I may understand my responsibility to become a co-laborer with Christ. I pray for a manifestation of Your grace and power to come into the midst of Your church, that we celebrate Christmas by remembering God.