Like most children, Christmas was my favorite holiday! On Thanksgiving night, our family went out and purchased a live tree and brought it home to be decorated and placed in our living room. We would then come together and celebrate throughout the next month with our favorite foods as we counted down to the day, December 25th, all in anticipation of receiving great gifts for a birthday that wasn’t ours.
As kids you don’t really slow down and process why you would receive gifts for a birthday that wasn’t yours. However, as adults, it’s imperative that we do.
Christmas is about God so loving this sinful world so much that He gave His only son, Jesus as a Savior to all who will turn to Him for salvation.
The story of the Savior’s birth is known as the Christmas story. Read it in its entirety in Luke 2:1-20, but let me share verse 4-11, which reads, “ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Ever since the Advent of Jesus and wise men visited him in a house in Bethlehem presenting gifts of gold, incense and myrrh; Christmas has been about giving.
Christmas is Jesus – God’s Gift to Us
There’s no better time to step back and recognize that though there’s no harm in this tradition of gift giving, we don’t lose sight of the fact that the real reason for the season, is to share the gift of Jesus Christ.
The gift that Jesus Christ brings is the gift of salvation.
The gift of salvation is amazing and life changing. The Apostle Paul confirms it as indescribable. He writes in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”
So if you really want to give the best gift ever, offer the gift of salvation. It brings peace, joy and love, which we all need. But, most of all, it brings eternal blessings.
Do yourself and your loved ones a favor, tell them that though you may have a gift for them, you want to make sure that they have the best gift ever – Jesus Christ.
