It is the beginning of a new year, but lets remember the Babe in the manger throughout twenty-seventeen. The One who came to die for all of mankind, but first was born a human, vulnerable baby.
As I sit here typing, the weather outside is snowing and blowing and winter has arrived in all its white glory! For those who live in Canada, it is “Looking a lot like Christmas” as the old song goes. Not like a Bethlehem Christmas weather wise, but Jesus is the ‘Reason for the Season’, so wherever we live on this earth lets take the time to thank Him, worship Him, and rejoice in His birth.
Christmas is also a time of giving gifts to our loved ones and to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Jesus reminds us that. . . “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. He should know as no one has given a better gift to mankind than He of Himself. Do we give sacrificially like Jesus did, even to those who malign and curse us? Do we give only to our own families when so many around us are in dire need of help and hope? Do we give reluctantly out of a feeling of obligation or to enhance our social standing and gather praise from others?
Much of mankind has become more interested in the receiving of gifts than in the Giver of gifts. Some do not even know that it is His birthday they are actually celebrating.
Lets face it, materialism has taken over and we now desire – no actually we demand – gifts that bring us joy for a short period of time before that empty feeling of “something is missing” comes creeping back into the pit of our very being.
We are mystified at why our teens are committing suicide in record numbers when they have been given more material gifts than their parents ever received? Why we ask, is there chaos and violence all around us by those who feel their truth is the only truth? Why is there never any lasting peace when our governments are always negotiating to attain peace in a world full of wars?
The answer is simple – yet shunned by the world and labeled as foolish. When we begin to do as Jesus did – emptying ourselves of ‘self’ – we will be filled with the gifts of love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness. We will look at the giving of gifts through Jesus eyes.
This Christmas as you ponder what gifts to give, tell others about Jesus – the Babe in the manger – you will give the best Gift of all.