Devotion

Don’t you love it when someone gives you a present? I do. Be it a birthday present, anniversary present or Christmas present—I like them all! Children especially love presents. Have you seen them attack their gifts on Christmas morning sending wrapping paper flying through the air in all directions? It’s as though their only concern on Christmas is to receive their gifts with joyful delight and spend the entire day playing with their new toy or game. Gone—at least for the day—is any concern about schoolwork or household chores. They will even forget yesterday’s argument they had with brother or sister. Their complete concentration is absorbed in receiving and enjoying their Christmas gifts.

About that time along comes Mom or Dad who—with the best of intentions—tells them, “The true spirit of Christmas is in giving not receiving.” But are Mom & Dad correct? What does the Bible say about Christmas? “Unto you this day in the city of David a Savior is born who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign unto you. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 11-12). With all due respect to parental authority Mom & Dad have it wrong and the children are right. Christmas is all about receiving.

The true spirit of Christmas lies not in giving, but in receiving—especially in receiving the greatest gift of all—not a gift wrapped in paper and placed under a tree—but the gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in the manger. The heavenly Father’s Christmas gift to you is your savor Jesus Christ, born into this world to destroy the havoc and chaos of sin and Satan and bring to you a new life of forgiveness, peace and love.

May the joy and delight of a child on Christmas morning be yours this Christmas season and throughout the year as you rejoice and delight in receiving Christ—the greatest Christmas gift of all. That is the true spirit of Christmas. Amen

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Updated: Wednesday June 02, 2010