The Christmas season is in full swing, and what a joy it is to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Trees are decorated, lights are strung, and carols are sung to honor the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
As you reflect on all your Christmas traditions, think back and try to remember your favorite Christmas gift. What was it like to hope for a gift and then to actually receive it? For me, it was getting my first puppy, Konner. As an investigative 7 year old, I had researched all the books at the school library, since Google didn’t exist yet, to decide what kind of dog I wanted to have as my very own. At the time, all I could think about is how much I wanted a Miniature Schnauzer. I had to prove to my parents I was ready to take care of a dog all by myself and show them I was responsible. I had full knowledge that having a dog would require me to sacrifice some of my time to do other things. When I opened a box on Christmas morning to find Konner, I was so overjoyed I think I may have cried. I had proven to my parents I could handle a dog, and they were giving me the chance to show that to them.
Yet, did you know there is a greater gift that doesn’t require you to show you are worthy to receive it? Did you know God has given us an indescribable gift in Jesus (2 Corinthians 9:15)? God loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son to the world (John 3:16). We don’t have to wait to accept Jesus until we prove we are good enough. There’s no checklist to complete. All we must do is ask for it, so we can allow God to start shaping our lives for His purpose. Jesus is the ultimate present, and it’s a free gift we can accept anytime, no matter our circumstances. Giving gifts to each other is a reminder of what all God has given us, and I encourage you to give and receive gifts with this sentiment.
My hope this Christmas is that you can fully enjoy all the season has to offer, but I also hope that is a time for you to reflect on the loving character of our God. If you don’t know Jesus, my prayer is that you’ll welcome Him into your heart.
I spent a lot of a time as a child knowing a lot about Jesus, but I didn’t know him personally. I had to invite him in my heart, to work through me and to dwell within me. It was a relationship I had to cultivate through reading God’s Word, prayer, and allowing other followers of Jesus to build me up in the faith. By knowing Jesus, you will have a gift that not only lasts this Christmas, but also endures forever. Merry Christmas!
Blessings,
Julia Ellis
Principal, Ignite Christian Academy