I have to admit I tend to go a little overboard with my people and the gift giving. I love to Christmas shop. It’s of course more of a challenge in the last couple of years. I love to watch people open gifts. I like the excitement on children’s faces when they see presents under a tree and even more so when they are opening the gifts. And yes, I probably do too much. When my children were younger if they had a need at Christmas time, be it underwear, socks or even a toothbrush chances are they would find it under the tree on Christmas morning. (I’m kidding about the toothbrush….I think) But why do we do this tradition of giving gifts at Christmas?
One of the main reasons is to remind us of the wise men and the gifts they brought to baby Jesus.
“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
The wise men brought gifts to Jesus, we give gifts to each other but the main reason we give gifts is we can’t forget the greatest gift to all humanity is Jesus. God sent us his one and only son to minister to us, to show us how to live, and to save us!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
He came to earth as a baby, born to common people in a common place on an extraordinary night. He could have come with all the pomp and circumstance fit for the king that He is, but He didn’t. He chose humble beginnings. He grew in wisdom and stature, He taught, He ministered, He healed the sick and the lame and He was crucified on a cruel cross to be our holy sacrifice. He did all of this for our salvation. And all we have to do is to receive the gift.
You know one thing we christians have to remember is that Jesus didn’t tell us to get our act together before we came. And we don’t get to do that either. So today the best present we can give to this world has already been given. We are the re-gifters here. We can give grace and peace and love to this dark and hurting world and point them to the true gift, Jesus! He’s the best gift we can give.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
Restore 