Tis the season for giving. I know we’re all very busy like Santa, making our list and checking it several times to ensure no one is left out in our Christmas giving. I will check my list right along with you: children, grandchildren, Mom, Dad, siblings… Check, check, check, and double-check for those who have been nice.
The children can’t wait for Santa to bring them toys, cell phones, pc tablets, and other got-to-have or to-die-for items. But they aren’t alone. Adults will also have gift-wrapped boxes under the Christmas tree.
What word pops in your head when someone says Christmas? Many people would say presents, gifts, party or some other commercialized or traditional associations.
When you imagine Christmas, what do you see?
When I close my eyes and think about Christmas, I see a beautiful Christmas tree with tinsel, shiny bulbs, and other beautiful trimmings. And yes, and there are presents.
The tradition that we’ve created with gifts and Christmas trees has little to do with the word Christmas.
The word Christmas is all about Christ and mass, hence Christmas. The old English term is Cristes Maesse, Christ’s Mass, or mass on Christ’s day.
There is nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts at Christmas time. We’ve all heard that it’s better to give than to receive.
But in our giving, the miracle of Christmas is the greatest gift we can give. That Christmas gift is the gift of witnessing God’s love and the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.
None of our gifts or presents compare to God’s gift to every human being, Jesus.
Imagine Christ on Christmas Day!
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. The prophecy of the ages was fulfilled. Isaiah 7:14 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel is a Hebrew name that means ‘God with us.’
The little children may not understand that Joseph, Mary’s husband, wasn’t Jesus’ father.
The Bible says the Holy Ghost came upon Mary and the power of the Highest overshadowed her, and Jesus was conceived.
The miracle of Jesus not only speaks to his birth as God’s only begotten son but also to his purpose, which is expressly stated in John 3:16, “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.”
When the wise men saw the child Jesus, they gave Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor him.
This giving of gifts is the wonderful Christmas tradition that we follow today.
We give Christmas gifts to remind us of the presents that were presented to baby Jesus.
What a wonderful tradition!
No other giving tradition compares to Christmas. But we know that Jesus forgave our sins and gave His life to save those who believe in Him.
Christmas is a special time for those who believe in the gift and love of God, Jesus.
Let Christmas come into our world
and bring us warmth and cheer,
Bring us faith in place of doubt
and strength in place of fear,
Bring us hope and bring us love
to guide our hearts forever…
Let Christmas come into our world
and bring us all together (Hallmark).
Merry Christmas!