Did you finish your Christmas shopping? I think I’m about done! Maybe one or two more gifts and I’ll have it. I love the idea of “gift giving” at Christmas. It does represent a generous spirit that was pictures by the gracious gifts of the magi who came to Jesus at the first Christmas. They brought some very valuable presents. If gold was as valuable then as it is today, it represents the most precious gift of all. We probably don’t appreciate the worth of frankincense and Myrrh but as they are in company with gold we can assume they too were extremely valuable.

Really, there is an exchange of gifts at the first Christmas. God began the exchange by giving us the greatest gift of all. John 3:16 you all know well. It’s a wonderful Christmas verse. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” What a great gift. Romans chapter five expounds on three different aspects of the gift God gave us in His only son. He gives us a life that is forgiven in Romans 5:1. We are justified by faith and have peace with God. What a great gift! In Romans 5:2, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. That “hope” is reference to an eternal future we have with him when he returns in all his glory. Romans 5:3-5 gives us a life that is enhanced and strengthened in the here and now. We persevere in tribulations, strengthened by His love which is shed abroad in our hearts by His Spirit.

Anything that we might give to him in response pales in comparison to what he brought to us on Christmas day. His love for us, opens up our hearts and draws out our love for him and we can’t help but worship him and rejoice with him and with others in a generous spirit during this holiday season. But it really must begin with receiving Christ’s gift. After all, He came all the way from heaven to give them to you.

Chuck
“Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11