Last week, I read The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans. It’s a famous novella released in 1995. (Yeah, I’m close to 30 years late to the party, but better late than never). It’s not a Christian novel per se, but it’s a clean, heartwarming Christmas read. I enjoyed it.
One of the main points made in the story is that love was behind “the first Christmas gift.” It was an allusion to Jesus being sent into the world. And, again, while The Christmas Box isn’t billed as a Christian novel, I appreciated that message. It certainly rings true with what John records Jesus as saying to Nicodemus…
“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.” (John 3:16, KJV)
God loved. God gave.
Giving is tied to love. Indeed, giving or sacrifice is the very currency of love.
This is the whole point of worship. We give our time, focus, energy, adoration, and allegiance to God. That’s what we do when we worship Him. Worship is, at the heart, about giving.
This Christmas, let’s make sure we give to God our worship. And thank Him for that first Christmas gift.
Additionally, let’s remember that loving and giving are tied together. When we give gifts to family and friends, remember that. Don’t feel obligated to compete on price when it comes to exchanging Christmas gifts with family and friends — even if you sense that expectation or pressure from them. What matters is that whatever you give is done so in the spirit of love.
When we give to our family and friends at Christmas, we are (in a small way) echoing the ultimate gift that God gave to us that first Christmas. (And, yes, we are also mirroring the gifts the wise men brought the baby Jesus).
This Christmas, remember the theme is love.
Be driven by love. Make that virtue the heart of your Christmas.
God bless you and Merry Christmas!
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