I'd like to pass along this 'gift' ...

 Subject: A Gift: How faith is established and built up ...

 The 'best gift ever' ...

 Recall text from Luke 2:1-14
 (please google 'KJV Luke 2:1-14' to see)


 Upon re-reading I noticed several 'new' things ...

 It was no special 'sign' really, for the shepherds, who had just been over-awed by ... an angel and then their very local heaven filled with singing angels ... to go to see a baby wrapped in 'swaddling clothes' ...

 But this new baby, they were to find ...

 'Laying in a manger' ...

 In 'The City of David' - aka Bethlehem

 And this new-born son in that manger was none other than ...
 The Very long promised and long awaited Saviour ... The Christ (The Messiah - The Anointed Holy One of Israel) ... This baby in that manger was 'The Lord'.


 Evidence for future 'faith' may easily be established by repeated awe-filled juxtaposition of extreme contrasting events ...

 1. Shepherds in the country fields at night being over-awed by an angel and than their very local heavens being filled with singing angels ...

 2. Announcing their extreme privilege to go and see the long promised Saviour ... the very Christ the Lord ... but as a new born son laying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes ...

 3. The near by humble little town 'just happened also' to BE the VERY birth-place OF their greatest former king - king David ... and ALSO the VERY promised birth-place of their long promised Messiah and Saviour.

 4. But how did we arrive just outside Bethlehem at just this very time? Why ... Caesar Augustus has 'just decided' to tax the 'whole world' ... So Joseph must now leave Nazareth, where he and Mariam were living ... and so he takes his espoused wife with him, to his place of birth to pay that tax.


 We may note that the practical parallel to Matthew 6:33 is Proverbs 3:5,6 ...

 As we seek first God's Kingdom and His Righteousness ... (Mat 6:33)

 we will be very careful to trust in the Lord with all our heart ...

 and so do acknowledge Him in all our ways ...

 expecting Him, the Lord, to faithfully (re-)direct our paths.  (Prov 3:5,6)

 Even our faith in the Lord... is a gift!