I have ALWAYS loved Christmas. Maybe "love" isn't even a big enough word describe what I feel for it. I LIVE for this holiday. The family time, the baking, the crafting, the cozy fireplace, the hot chocolate, the SNOW! (Yes, I am a Michigander who actually LIKES a good Michigan winter.) My children use to watch a cartoon called the "Happy Elf" and, as they giggled at his enthusiasm for the holiday, I found myself saying, "Wait a minute! That's me! I'm the happy Elf!"
As a child, sleep was impossible on Christmas Eve. I would watch the clock move slowly through the endless night, praying that God would make it go faster. I can't tell you the countless times my brothers and I would get up earlier than my parents and attempt to "make their coffee" for them so we wouldn't have to wait for it when we all woke up.
One Christmas, we woke with no power and, afraid our parents would say we couldn't open presents until it was restored, we searched the entire house for candles and lit them in the living room to prove to them when they got up that it was totally fine and Christmas could continue. Thankfully, they supported that idea...that was until after presents were open and we discovered the wax melted all over the carpet. Oops.
I thought adulthood would help me "tame" my inner-elf, but alas - it has only GREW with time! My husband tells me every year that I am just as bad as the kids, because I still cannot sleep on Christmas Eve. I camp out on the couch, camera in hand, and sleep sitting up, hoping to catch their faces when they reach the living room in the morning. After all that coupon clipping and late night wrapping and counting and recounting and stealth detective work to figure out what they are needing – I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THEIR FACES WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR PRESENTS! Thankfully, my babies do not disappoint. Have you heard of cheerful givers? Well, my children are cheerful RECIEVERS.
And this is what came to mind this week as I read John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only son that whosoever believeth in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This truth, this love, this gift is at the very heart of Christmas and at the very center of our Faith. Isaiah 9:6 says,
“For unto us a child is born and unto us a son is GIVEN.”
The word "given" is the word "nathan" in the original Hebrew. It means to "ascribe, bestow, grant, pour out and shoot forth." For unto US a son – Jesus!- was ascribed, bestowed, and granted. For US, he was poured out and shot forth from the heavens. What a gift!
Webster Dictionary defines a "gift" as "A thing willingly given without payment."
THIS IS JESUS - A Gift of Love GIVEN and BESTOWED on US WILLINGLY and FREELY by our Father in Heaven.
But we must choose what we will do with the gift.
Over and over again in the Christmas story, people had to decide – what they would do with this Jesus, with this gift?
o Mary had to decide – would she carry Him?
o Joseph had to decide – would he accept Him?
o The Inn Keeper had to decide –would he make room for Him?
o The Wise Men had to decide – would they go in search of Him?
o And the shepherds…
In Luke, they encounter the glory of the Lord and hear the Good News of Jesus. What do they do about it? There is a difference between a gift being GIVEN and a gift being RECEIVED. Would they go and find Him or would they miss the gift?
John 1:12
“But as many as received Him, who believed in His name,
He gave the right to be the sons of God.”
· James 1:11 tells us not all received Him. Some rejected the gift. But as many as received Him…they became sons of God. And this is where it all begins. We must decide – will we receive the Gift?
Gifts are given as an expression of love NOT as a reward for good behavior. They are not earned. God KNOWS you don’t deserve it. A gift has more to do with the love the GIVER has for the receiver than how deserving the receiver is of the gift. This gift – this Jesus – and the gift within the gift of sonship – ALL OF THIS is a love gift given willingly and freely from the Father. “For God so loved the world that He gave His son.” And if we will receive it, really lay hold of it…it – HE- changes everything. How can I not be excited!?
If you haven't received the gift of Jesus and want to talk to someone, please message us: nicolemhoman@gmail.com. We want to pray with you! Today can be the day you receive the GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT OF ALL TIME.