By Micah Messer
I bought my first Christmas presents this week. It took me fighting with traffic, walking through crowds, and standing in lines to find that perfect present for that special someone. Pardon me for sounding like Scrooge, but aren’t prices expensive? Forgive me for sounding like the Grinch, but is giving gifts really necessary? I thought to myself, “Is this what Christmas is all about?”
Yes, it is. Christmas is all about giving. We give because God gave. For God so loved that He gave His only Son. Yes, a child was born, but a Son was given. Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the sons and daughters of God. The love of the Father is clearly shown in the gift of His Son. Jesus was the perfect present, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Jesus was the gift that continued to give. He gave the words of life. He gave his own life. He is life.
We, however, were not special someones. You and I were liars and deceivers, murderers and haters, adulterers and fornicators, rebellious and disobedient children of God. We deserved punishment not a pardon. Yet even while we were sinners, Christ still died for us. Wasn’t the price for our salvation expensive? Yes, but He paid our debt in full. Was Him giving His own life really necessary? Yes, He died in our place. What a sacrificial God for a selfish world.
And before leaving us, He gave one more time. He did not leave us comfortless; He gave the Comforter. He said receive ye the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also a gift. We often think of the humility of Christ to become flesh and dwell among us. Do we realize how equally humbling it is for the Holy Spirit to come down and dwell in us? Emmanuel has come not only to dwell among us but also in us.
What a generous God. We complain about fighting traffic, walking through crowds, and standing in lines to give a gift when He fought the Devil, walked on earth, and stood in humanity’s place in line to give Himself. What a perfect present. What a glorious gift.
Christmas is the season of giving because God gave Christ to the world. This Christmas give like the Father: generously, sacrificially, and cheerfully to the needy, poor, and undeserving who cannot return your time or money. Most importantly, give all of yourself to the One who gave all of Himself for you. Give your heart to God.
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