What is your Gift to Jesus this Christmas?
This is the time of year when our true feelings about people begin to surface. It can be measured by the gift you give.
Wait a minute, it’s the thought that counts not the size or gift amount. Well, I’m not sure how true this statement is, give your wife a new apron with her name on it and see how well that goes over!
OK, well let’s examine this thought:
You have a gift exchange at your job, and because you have little emotional attachment to the people at work, the price you are willing to pay for a gift is small, and the stores you shop at will be discounted stores to save money.
You are shopping for a close friend, and because your emotional attachment is greater, the stores you shop at and the presents you buy will be of greater value.
You are shopping for your spouse and your kids; your emotional ties should be the greatest for these individuals. So, your gift will reflect more thought, a higher price and shopping at a higher end store.
You see your feelings, emotions, and the amount of Love that you have for someone will determine the amount of sacrifice that you are willing to give to that person.
And be careful that your actions don’t come from a place of obligation, as in the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-4). Hard work without any zeal or passion will soon deteriorate. This is why Jesus reprimanded the church of Ephesus. He knew that our commitment to someone or something will begin to waver if you don’t have the passion, excitement, zeal, and emotional ties attached to your works.
This is why you have a hard time sacrificing your wants, needs and desires for the sake of the Gospel. Intellectually you say, “I love God,” but emotionally you haven’t fallen in love with Him.
Let’s examine this from a practical application:
A small gift or a little love.
I come to church once a week on Sunday, sacrificing two hours of my time. With no intention of changing my thought life and my self-talk to line up with the Word of God. And the sad thing is you could have just heard a message that directly applies to an issue in your life, saying amen as you hear it and leaving with no intention of changing your thoughts or actions.
I know God has given me the gift to teach and the patience to work with the youth, but my schedule is too busy. So, I’ll give $5.00 to the youth ministry.
I don’t have time to ready or study my Bible, so I’ll just turn on the preacher in the morning.
Oh no, I paid all my bills and forgot to pay my tithes. I think I have a couple of dollars that I can put in the offering on Sunday.
We have been talking about unity for a long time, but it’s hard to talk to sister square box, she doesn’t even say hello, I’ll nod when I see her.
GREAT GIFTS FOR JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS:
Obedience to His Commandments: In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands.” This highlights that loving Jesus involves following His teachings and living according to His will.
Serving Others: In Matthew 25:40, Jesus teaches that whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Him. Serving others and showing kindness can be seen as a direct expression of love for Christ.
Loving One Another: Jesus emphasizes love among His followers,
John 13:34-35 (NLTse) – “[34] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
Worship and Praise: Engaging in worship and praise is another way to show love. Psalms 100:2 encourages worship with gladness, emphasizing the importance of honoring God through our actions.
Bearing Fruit: In John 15:8, Jesus states that bearing fruit makes us true disciples, and brings glory to the Father. This fruit is outlined in;
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLTse) – “[22] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Sacrificial Love: Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ showed His love by sacrificing Himself for us while we were still sinners. We are called to reflect this attitude of sacrificial love in our relationships.
Faithfulness: Have an attitude that I will follow God’s directions no matter what society says is right or wrong. I will follow God’s Word even if it goes against my reasoning. Showing my commitment to Christ even in trials by faith believing that He will see me through, is a testament to our love for Him.
By embodying these principles, believers can demonstrate their love for Jesus in both their personal lives and their interactions with others.
Matthew 22:37-39 (NLTse)
[37] Jesus replied, "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself’.”