Tuesday, December 24, 2024

What is the greatest Christmas gift you have ever received? 

When I reflect on this question, I cannot answer it. Honestly, I can’t even remember most of the Christmas gifts that I have received over the years, from my childhood to last year. However, every year during Christmas, I remember the greatest gift I have ever been given—the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood on the cross.

It is so easy to get wrapped up in the superficial aspects of Christmas—the gifts, the family get togethers, decorating, and much more—and temporarily forget the true meaning of Christmas. I get lost in the chaos that comes with the holidays and focus more on satisfying my loved ones and the magical feeling of the holiday season than being thankful for the gift that God has given us. 

There is nothing essentially wrong with celebrating these aspects of the holidays. However, we must remember exactly why we’re celebrating at all. The birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is the moment that God entered our world in preparation for the greatest gift ever given—eternal life and freedom from sin.

On one long, treacherous night, our savior was born in a humble manger. His earthly mother, Mary, and her husband, Joseph, were desperately searching for a place where Mary could give birth. But, as stated in Luke 2:7, there was no room at the inn for her to comfortably give birth. So, our Savior was born in the stables, among the farm animals. His humble beginnings upon entering this world foreshadowed the humility, grace, and love he exemplified throughout his earthly life.

Luke 2:6-7
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history, right next to Easter, when he was resurrected from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. 

This Christmas, let's remember the extraordinary gift sent from our Heavenly Father—the greatest gift of all time.

Questions:
What are some practical ways that we can show God our gratitude this holiday season?

How can we redirect our attention away from material items and toward Jesus this Christmas?

Next Steps:
This Christmas, when you receive a gift, remember and meditate on the gift that God gave us through Jesus Christ.

Send a Christmas card or gift to someone in need to spread the love and generosity of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, thanks for sending your son Jesus Christ into the world to save me from the punishment for my sins. Even though no human deserves it, you poured out your love and grace upon me and gave me the greatest gift of all time—salvation and a personal relationship with you. Help me spread the love and grace of Jesus Christ to others throughout this holiday season. In Jesus’ name, amen.

This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut.