Carnival to Festival: Christmas Gifts

There is no tradition more central to the present holiday (no pun intended) than the exchanging of gifts. Have you ever stopped to wonder why the giving and receiving of gifts is so meaningful to us? Where did that tradition even start? For the answer, I can do no better than to turn to the great evangelist Billy Graham:

Shortly after Jesus was born, a small group of men traveled hundreds of miles to pay Him homage and give Him gifts. When they finally discovered Him, the Bible says, “they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

Although we can’t be certain, over the centuries the example of those “wise men” (as we usually call them) probably contributed to our modern custom of giving gifts at Christmas. Unfortunately, we’ve almost forgotten the meaning of those original gifts. They were given to honor Jesus—but all too often today, our gift-giving has become self-centered and materialistic, or even burdensome. Help (those we give gifts) to see it instead as an opportunity to express love and respect for others.

Help (others to) discover the real meaning of Christmas. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago. And we celebrate His birth because He was God’s gift to us—for through Him, God demonstrated His great love for us. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

In the midst of all the busyness of Christmas this year, ask God to help you keep Christ at the center of everything you do. And pray too for (those we give gifts to), that (they) will receive God’s gift of His Son into (their) life.*

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! —2 Corinthians 9:15

Merry Christmas,

PAC.