If you are like our family, you have probably decorated for Christmas already and started to collect gifts under your Christmas tree. You have been planning the perfect gifts for your family members and those you will be gathering with during the holidays. Other family members are doing the same thing and the pile of gifts is growing. The countdown happens each morning and the excitement and anticipation is mounting.
Why do we exchange gifts with our loved ones? Because we are made in the image of God. God is a good father who gives good gifts to his children. (See last week.) And so we want to give good gifts too.
God gives us so much. Here is a short and not exhaustive list:
– Deuteronomy 8:18a “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,”
– Ecclesiastes 2:26 “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,”
– 2 Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
– John 3:34 “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”
– John 6:33 “For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– He even gives gifts to those who haven’t accepted his love. Matthew 5:45b “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
What amazing gifts. Our abilities, wisdom, knowledge, happiness, power, love, self-discipline, the Spirit – without limit, life, victory! And during this special season of the year, we remember his greatest gift of all. Luke 2:6 “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Put these gifts down under your tree and treasure them. Put Jesus in the center of your Christmas celebration because he is the reason we enjoy this day. Open the best gift from the best giver. Because Love Gives!
