"Jackpot!" says my nephew as he opens up all of his presents. Smiling from ear to ear I love watching him and his brothers enjoy unwrapping the mysterious gifts that lay under the Christmas tree. While they are jockeying for position to see who will open the next present, I wonder if in my heart I look forward to Christmas more about what I can get than what I can give.
On the first Christmas, way back in Bethlehem... We all know the story... Jesus, the Son of God, was born, but for what purpose? Was it to give or take? As we continue down the journey of Jesus' life, the purpose of His life becomes clear. He was born to GIVE us an example of how to live, to GIVE us His life so that we can live eternally with God. Nothing about Jesus' life is about taking anything for Himself. So what is our excuse?
We would say, " Well Jesus is God and we are not." Very true Jesus is God, but He is also human. If giving ourself was not possible, Jesus would not have illustrated that for us while on earth. As Christians, we like to think that we are givers. However, true giving means not expecting anything in return. Secretly, in all of our hearts, we love to know what Christmas presents we are getting. We are just more discrete than my 7 year old nephew. At least he is honest. The fact is Jesus' reason for coming to earth was because He knew that we were selfish and materialistic. He knew that we did not know what true giving was. That is why He had to show us.
The point is can we honestly give our heart, soul, mind to anybody or anything without expecting something in return? If we are honest, we want to know what we can get out of salvation. We cannot follow God just because He is good, loving, and holy. We have to follow Him because He is the one that can get us into Heaven. If any of this hits home... its okay... it should. It does with me. Jesus came to give us new life, to transform us into new creatures. Jesus gave us salvation not because He had to, but because He wanted to.
This Christmas, as we sit around with our families let's try to give without expecting anything in return. Let's try to live as Jesus lived, and give everything to others and to Him. I encourage you this season to turn over a new leaf and live the life God fully intended for all of us to live. Live a life of giving expecting nothing in return. Let resting in God's arms be gift enough for you.
