While Jesus was… reclining at the table… a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume… She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying… “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus… “She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:3-6
Comedian Jim Gaffigan has some funny things to say about Christmas like…
“Ever wonder what people got Jesus for Christmas? It’s like ‘Oh great, socks. You know I’m dying for your sins right? Yeah, but thanks for the S-O-C-K-S! They’ll go great with my sandals. What am I, German?’”
In gift buying, the people closest to us get the costly gifts. We go cheap on the rest. What statement does it make to God when you only chuck-a-buck now and then in the offering plate? Jesus said your treasure and your heart are inseparable. You can say you love Him but he knows that your checkbook reveals what you really value and treasure. What is your giving saying?
Be an extravagant worshipper and make Jesus the recipient of your most expensive gift this Christmas Season.
PRAYER: Jesus thank you for paying the full price for my sins and offering salvation to me as a gift. I accept it and know that it says volumes about how much you love me. It says volumes about how you value me and desire an intimate relationship with me. I repent for being so cheap in the past in my giving back to you. Amen.
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As I was thinking about Steve’s message this morning, and pondering “what does God want for Christmas?” I remembered an activity that our kids did several years ago in Sunday School. They made hearts out of construction paper and wrapped them up in a box to put under the tree. The idea of course, is that we give our hearts to Jesus.
I am thankful for the paradigm shift that God doesn’t have everything he wants (thanks for messing with my theology!) because I really felt like God was telling me that this is something we need to do every year - give Jesus a gift, wrap it up and put it under the tree. This will help us all keep our focus on the One who gave the greatest gift of all. Why are we spending so much money on giving gifts to others and leaving out the One for whom we celebrate Christmas?
So, one of our activities will be to have each person in our family think and pray about what God might want from us this year. As Steve suggested, the most important thing for those who already follow Christ is to commit to daily time in prayer and the Bible, as well as making our worship of Jesus a daily event, not just something we do on Sunday. I envision many other possibilities as well, such as repenting and turning from an habitual sin, giving time and money to help the needy, giving up a bad influence in our lives (TV program or music?), or whatever God speaks to us about that will draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. What does He want from me?
My thought is that we will make these gifts the first we unwrap and share with our family what we have written, then make these gifts a table centerpiece or somehow have them in a place where we can see them and remember them. We don’t want to get to next Christmas and have to say “Sorry, Jesus, but I have to ask for that gift back.” We would be embarrassed to say that to a friend or family member, how much sadder if we had to tell Jesus that we couldn’t follow through. New Year’s resolutions are easy to break; taking a gift back is not.
Maybe people already do this, but it is a new idea to me, and I look forward to making this Christmas the most meaningful yet.
I love that idea! Thanks for sharing!!
I believe what Jesus wants for Christmas is for us all to Glorify His Father, through prayer, fasting, giving, or what ever we are able to do.
I pause to consider the Christians world wide who, at this present time, believe it or not, are too poor materially to give, what they do is give spiritually, even the ultimate price showing their love for Christ, persecution sometime even to death.
So, if we sometimes ponder if we are doing enough to show our love for Christ, go to your knees and ask what he would like from you at this time, many have done that, knowing the shortest distance to heaven is the distance between your knees and the floor.
God Bless you all…………bob
I want to piggyback off of Kris’ comments. A few years ago, I attended a womens’ Christmas tea at church, and as I was sitting there, God impressed upon me to ask Him what He wanted for Christmas. I asked Him right then and there. He said, “You. I want you!” Wow! God wants us, ALL of us, not just our big toe or our elbow. OK, I am being silly, but seriously, God wants all of us - every area of our lives. Are you willing to surrender all? I have done that, and it was so frightening to let go and let God. However, as I handed the reigns over to Him, my stuff is no longer mine. It belongs to God. Everything belongs to God.
The one with the most toys does not WIN! The one who gives him or herself to God - wholeheartedly and completely - is the one who wins!
God bless everyone! Jesus is the reason for this joyous season!