GIFTS OR THE GIFT

What do you want for Christmas this year? A very common question asked this time of year. What is your favorite gift you will receive or have received? Good question.

Of all the gifts I've received, One has stood the test of time. It is still with me (even longer than some of the clothes that from time to time, my wife makes me throw away). I received it at age 15, and it was in October, not in December. But it was an important birthday to celebrate what I received nonetheless. It was receiving the gift of Jesus.

What is Christmas about? Family--yes. Giving to others--yes. Peace and love to others--yes. But without Jesus, it is just another holiday, another time to get with family and friends, overeat, watch sports or catch up with people, play games, etc. Are those things important? (Maybe most of them). But the most important is to catch up with Jesus and make the celebration about Him.

For many years, our family did not do much at Christmas with Jesus. (Of course, we went to church). It was so often just about being together and giving and receiving gifts. Then we began a time when we, as a family (not just the church family), began to sing some Christmas carols (about Jesus), read the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, and pray together. After that spiritual emphasis, we would then open our gifts.

Have you received gifts or "the gift"? What is the most important part of Christmas (CHRIST-mas)? Jesus--the real gift of Christmas, whether we had our birth in Him in December or October or another time. When His birthday comes each year, it is a time to celebrate the greatest gift, we as believers, have ever received. A time to remember our spiritual birthday, and as we celebrate that with others of our families, it is a time to point them also to the true meaning of Christmas--Jesus--THE GIFT.

Jesus Immanuel--God with us who will save His people from their sins.

If you do not have some spiritual celebration with your family, make a new tradition this year by taking time, with others, to sing or read the Christmas story (found in Luke 2 and Matthew 1), pray, and give thanks for the greatest gift you've ever received. And pray that everyone in your family will receive, at some point in their life, the greatest Christmas gift there is--Jesus. Do you have that gift? Celebrate Him and share Him.