The Ultimate Gift

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh,” Matthew 2:11, KJV.

As many trim Christmas trees, wrap gifts, and hang lights for the world to see, how many of us get down on our knees and thank God for His gift to us? There are some churches where I’ve seen services cancelled (on the previous Sunday) due to the Christmas holiday and it makes me wonder, what exactly are they celebrating? I thought that as a congregational unit this is what Christmas meant. It’s disturbing to expect so much from God and to wrap gifts to show our devotion to others, but then give nothing back to the One who has given us everything.

Christmas has become commercialized giving reverence to its paganistic roots, but we as Christians should hold fast to the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. Just as stated in the book of Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun, I see the “holiday” instead of “holy day” reverting back to the original partying that happened during the years following Christ’s ascension. What does Christmas mean to you? What are some traditions highly honored in your family that needs to be put to bed? Or are you wrapped up in the frenzy of buying gifts and baking goods instead of reflecting on the ultimate gift God has given?

I enjoy the Christmas season as it is the most wonderful time of the year for me, but as I went out to the stores this week to get items needed for myself, I watched in amazement at the rudeness of others. While some deliberately cut others off, many about ran people over trying to get to their chosen destinations. Some refused to allow you to cross the street while others waved you along in annoyance. And then I’ve noticed the advertisements about Christmas, slowly taking CHRIST out of it all together. I was heated to see some going as far as to put up a billboard that said Heathen’s Greetings.

We must fight for our faith, the good fight. It is not enough to sit back and watch in disgust, but let us be those examples for Christ. Souls are in dire need to be saved and we must be proactive in doing as much as we can while we still have breath in our bodies. Our very conversation should testify of our Lord and Savior not only during this time of the year, but all year long.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved,” John 3:16-17, KJV.