Thursday December 15, 2016
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” -Matthew 1:21
I have all of my Christmas gifts completed. I am convinced that I would have probably started in August if my husband would have let me.
I love Christmas. I think I love it so much because I love giving. At this time of year, I feel a stronger pull than usual to step out and help someone, or do something for someone.
As I study the Christmas story further, I realize that the relationship of Christmas and gift-giving is a biblical one.
Generously and freely giving gifts should come natural to us as Christians because God gave us his Son to redeem us; this is the association that cannot and should not be avoided.
Being the targets of God’s love implants a desire to be the kind of person who meets the needs of others. Knowing what it is to be loved by God is an experience that the Bible says should drive us to give as freely as we have received.
So while the world may be giving gifts for all the wrong reasons, we can piggy-back on this “gift-giving season” and give to help, benefit and encourage as a reflection of Christ and for the glory of God.
Prayer: “God, thank you for giving freely your one and only son. Help me this season, and every season after it to give freely of myself, my time, my energy, my resources, and my money to help whoever may be in need. In your name I pray, Amen.”
-Whitney Flach
