For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.

And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.

1 Peter 1:18 NLT

Many expensive gifts have been given throughout history such as one of the Wonders of the World the Taj Mahal. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658) in loving honor of his favorite wife and to be her mausoleum. In today’s wages it would cost about 70 billion rupees (about 1 billion dollars) to build.  But every thing that man can give, even though it may be great, falls flat compared to what God the Father gave to us 2,000  years ago in a small stable in Bethlehem. He gave His Son, Jesus, born 100% human and who is 100% God to provide a way to pay for our sins and give us eternal life.  How can man ever top that! What joy the shepherd’s must of felt when they saw their salvation laying in the Manger. They went around proclaiming what they saw throughout the town. Help us Lord to have joy in our hearts and a smile on our face to proclaim your great gift of Jesus to those around us so they too may receive eternal life.

- Cameron Stevens