|
Contact the Missionary Department at 740-477-7714 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Christmas Giving
By David Lattimer
Christmas is a time for giving. Matthew 2:11 says that when the wise men opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
It was while reading the devotional, Follow the Leader, by Dr. Norman Wilson that I realized anew that the first Christmas gifts were given to Jesus. The wise men did not exchange gifts among themselves. Now before you award me the Scrooge-of-the-Year award, let me say I could not think of celebrating Christmas without giving to my precious wife and family. Nevertheless, giving in the true spirit of that first Christmas is giving to those who are not able to give back to you. The infant Christ had no means of giving an earthly gift back to the wise men. They did not expect it. That's not why they came. They came to give and to worship this new King.
Christmas may be the only birthday party at which the guest of honor is largely ignored, while the invited guests exchange gifts among themselves. How much have you already spent in Christmas shopping? Add that to what you yet plan to spend and compare it with what you plan to give your Lord for His birthday.
So how can you and I give to Him? In Matthew 25 Jesus makes it clear that we give to Him when we give to the needy, the hungry, the thirsty, the prisoners and strangers. What would this Christmas be like if all those who call Jesus Lord gave as much to those who could never repay them as they give to their family and friends? The wise men gave to One who could not materially give back and they worshipped. That's how I want to celebrate this Christmas and every other Christmas Jesus allows me to have. I plan to give to those in need and to worship.
Why not celebrate this Christmas by sending those who have not heard this incredible Christmas story a missionary to share it? What greater gift could you ever give to anyone than to send them someone to tell them of Jesus?
What a story! In the words of Dr. Norman Wilson, At Bethlehem, God wrapped Himself in human flesh, Mary wrapped her newborn in swaddling clothes, and Jesus wrapped Himself in the stains of sin in order to reconcile us to God. Hallelujah! What a Savior! May God guide you and me in writing our gift list for this Christmas.
|
