“Have you finished your Christmas shopping already?” This is a question we’re all familiar with in the run-up to Christmas. Some people do their gift shopping very early, while others rush around the stores on the last day to buy those last few presents. Christmas and gifts – they somehow belong together. Unfortunately, we sometimes focus so much on the material things that we (often unconsciously) lose sight of the greatest gift of Christmas.
There are two sides to gift-giving: receiving and giving. Let’s first look at what we receive at Christmas:
The Greatest Gift
God sacrificed His only Son out of love for us. Imagine a family giving up their only child for some reason. This would be very difficult in reality. But even this comparison is only a weak image of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. The King of Kings became human, descended to a sinful earth, and chose the path of the manger, poverty, and the cross, even unto death.
In His Son, Jesus Christ, God gives us so much, absolutely everything!
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
What does God give us through Jesus?
Peace
At Christmas, the angels proclaimed: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…” (Luke 2:14). Jesus brings peace to a world full of hatred, strife, envy, and unrest.
On one hand, it is peace with God, which no one in this world can give us. On the other hand, it also includes peace with our fellow human beings. It enables us to act differently in difficult situations, to remain calm when we might get upset, to give in on small things even though we are in the right, or to do something for the sake of peace, even if it costs us effort. Such actions, accompanied by love and forgiveness, radiate peace and have a positive effect on those around us.
Maintaining this interpersonal peace is not always easy, in fact, it is nearly impossible on your own. Especially in turbulent times in your life, when discord overwhelms you, you can pour out your heart and your troubled feelings to the “Prince of Peace” and experience how He brings peace.
Forgiveness
God saw our distress, our guilty consciences, our separation from Him because of sin, and our fear of eternal damnation. No person, no religion, no system could save us, only the blood of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to make forgiveness possible for everyone who humbly turns to God in repentance. How a heart rejoices when it experiences this reconciliation with the heavenly Father! No material gift in this world can replace this joy.
Eternal life in glory
Through reconciliation, we become citizens of heaven. Wonderful homes await us there. We do not need to wander aimlessly and purposelessly through this life, but can have a firm goal in mind: glory with God..
Our gift to the Savior
Now let’s look at the other side: What is the best thing that you and I can give to the Savior?
The heart
The greatest and most valuable gift you can give to the Lord is your heart. “My son, (my daughter) give me your heart, …” (Proverbs 23:26). After you have experienced forgiveness of sins, don’t just sit back and be satisfied, but give your heart and your life to Jesus for His service. Don’t wait until you have changed yourself into a “perfect” human being, but surrender yourself to Him. He wants to mold us weak, flawed human beings into His image.
Don’t let your gift be just a beautiful shiny wrapped up present with no content inside. For example, being a perfect Sunday Christian and participating in everything at church, but remaining distant from Jesus in your heart, without a real, everyday relationship with Him.
Thankfulness
“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me…” (Psalm 50:23). A heart with a grateful attitude toward life, both in inner disposition and outward confession, honors God.
Time
During Advent, time often rushes by. Therefore, consciously set aside daily times of quiet and fellowship with God.
Someone had a wonderful idea: to read the Gospel of Luke with its 24 chapters during Advent. If you start on December 1 and read one chapter every day, the life of Jesus and His sacrifice will unfold before your eyes in a special way until Christmas.
Gifts and talents
God gives us abilities, gifts, and talents. Isn’t His sacrifice worth using them to honor and show our love for Him? Even though He expects nothing in return, He is worth giving Him our all.
Finally, the question again: Have you received your Christmas presents yet? Have you accepted the greatest gift and in return given your best to the Savior?
May this Christmas be filled not only with earthly gifts, but above all with heavenly gifts.
Dina Grötzinger
Eppingen, Germany
Be the first to comment