Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All
by Jocelyn
It's Christmastime, the time of year when we look forward to receiving and giving gifts. Gits are often much anticipated. Maybe there's something you’ve been hankering after all year and the time has finally come. Perhaps there's something you cannot wait to give, simply for the pleasure of seeing a huge smile on the face of a loved one. Most people, believers or not, are familiar with the nativity story and that Jesus is the reason for the season. It’s widely known that the Magi gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus and that we give gifts as a nod to this. However, for us as people of faith, Jesus’ association with gifts goes deeper than that.
The dictionary definition of gift is: a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present. Jesus was ( and is) a gift Himself! He was literally born to save the world, which is why there was so much anticipation, going back generations, before his birth and much rejoicing once He was actually born as a baby. People came from far and wide just to look at Him! He wasn't just a gift for the people of his time, He was a gift of hope for the Jewish people generations before His physical incarnation. And He was a gift to every successive generation and all future generations, until the end of time.
His birth was a gift because of the prophecy that was over His life (which he completely fulfilled). His ministry was a gift - the teachings, the healings, the deliverance - which continues to minister to us today. His death was a gift because, through it, He conquered sin and death granting us eternal life and reconciliation with God, the Father. Jesus’ ascension enabled us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and subsequently the nine gifts of the spirit - wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation. He truly is the gift that keeps on giving!
However, because He was given freely from the ultimate Giver of all gifts, from Whom all good and perfect gifts come and He gave His life willingly, no strings attached, even as believers we can fall into the trap of taking Him for granted. He paid a stupendous price for us because of our value to Him, yet because He is a ‘freebie’ to us, we sometimes get it twisted and don't give Him the honour He deserves. In keeping with the fourteen other ‘Let us’ statements in Hebrews, allow me to add one here:
Let us determine not to take Jesus for granted this season and into next year.
Jesus is the very definition of a timeless, priceless gift, far exceeding anything you could ever think of, ask for or hope to find under the tree. Christ over cashmere, every time! Let us also remember the gift of mortal life God has given to every human being, who He created in His image. When you accept the free gift of salvation through His son, you are called to regift your life back to God, not because you don't want it, but because you are to surrender, as a yielded vessel, to His plan for your life. He can use you far more effectively than you could ever spend yourself. God gives us the precious gift of a mortal life and the free will to choose the ultimate gift of eternal life with Him.
I was recently reminded of the preciousness of life by the passing of a dear friend. It was unexpected and quite devastating. We’d had many adventures together and, as far as I was concerned, there were more exploits to come. As we were both women of faith I have to say,rather than being partners in crime, we were partners in shine. Her death has hit me hard but, as Proverbs 3:5 instructs, I cannot lean on my own understanding regarding this because it would definitely drive me to despair. However, what I do know for sure is that she is, now, another witness in the cloud and I will run with perseverance that little bit harder and surrender more deeply for having known her…until we meet again.
So, this Christmas as you’re tucking into your turkey and cavorting in your cashmere, remember the lyric from ‘Do they know it's Christmas,’ (the original 1984 version, because it’s better!), the greatest gift you’ll get this year (and every year) is life - mortal and eternal. Live well!