Christmas season brings blessings and gifts. You probably have a list, if not written down, it’s in your head of the things you’ll give this Christmas to your friends, coworkers and especially your loved ones. Perhaps you have memories of some of your favorite gifts you’ve received. What made the gifts special to you probably wasn’t just what you received, but the person who thoughtfully demonstrated their love for you by giving you something special.
Christmas is all about the greatest gift ever given to you. Your heavenly Father gave you the ultimate gift of salvation through a gracious sacrifice made by His only son, Jesus. It is a special time to reflect on Jesus, His birth, and what he has meant to the world. So, is God (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) on your Christmas list?
What will you give God this Christmas?
Here are a few ideas:
- Give yourself fully to God. If you’ve not received His gift of salvation, that would be an amazing gift to receive and in exchange give yourself back to Him. If you have, then perhaps the gift of complete surrender please Him this now and in the coming year.
- Offer a sincere sacrifice. Consider a personal gift that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a sacrifice. Perhaps it’s something that causes you to stumble – a relationship, a habit or thoughts that go contrary to His truth.
- Forgive someone you’ve needed to forgive for a long time. (In doing so, you may discover that you’ve given a gift back to yourself.) Perhaps that someone is youself – letting go of past mistakes and accepting the new person God created you to be.
- Voice gratitude for His gifts in your life. Be thankful to God.
- Celebrate Him. Rejoice in the wonderful gift of relationship as you continue to grow in knowing Him.
What does God require from us? He wants us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV).”
