There is less than a week remaining to Christmas day. Over the next several days, many will be rushing to the stores for some last minute shopping. Perhaps it will be for stocking stuffers, maybe a special gift for that special somebody.
Mall Santas have heard gift requests from hundreds of children – gaming consoles, sports equipment, DVDs, board games – the list goes on and on. Canadians spent $35 billion+ on Christmas gifts in 2005.1 The economic difficulties of the past few years has likely lowered that figure a bit, but a look at the mall, Walmart or Toys R Us would indicate it has had a minimal effect.
Some in the religious world are upset by the commercialization of Christmas, and will use the slogan, “Keep the Christ in Christmas.” Friend, we cannot keep the Christ in Christmas, for He was not there to begin with. However it is not the purpose of our article today to consider the pagan origins of Christmas. You can find an article on that from December 20, 2009 and also a radio program on the topic.
Rather than focusing on what we, our children or significant others want for Christmas, I want us to think about what the Lord wants for Christmas. You might be thinking, what kind of question is that? I think it’s a valid question. Rather than focus on what gadgets to buy, what DVD to add to an already large collection, what new stuff to add to the old stuff we’ve already got, would it not be more profitable to think about the Lord and what we can give Him?
I do not mean for us to turn Christmas day into a celebration of Christ. It is not. Scripture says nothing about Christmas, nor do we have the right to make it about Him. Paul wrote that whatever we do in word or deed, we should do by the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:17).
Designating a special day to celebrate the Lord, a day which He said nothing about is not only contrary to Scripture, but shallow. Does the Lord deserve just one day? Should we not remember Him with the same fervour every day? Has He not given us life, breath, and all good things that we enjoy? Does He do this just one or two days a year? Neither should we!
There is certainly nothing wrong with focusing on the birth and infancy of Christ, but let our focus be directed by the Bible. If He were not born, then He could not die for us, and yet the Bible doesn’t emphasize His birth. The focus of the Bible is the life, death & resurrection of Christ. In His life He left us an example; in His death, He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins; and in His resurrection, He has given us the hope of resurrection also. Don’t ask, “What Child is this?” but rather, “Why did my Saviour come to earth?”
So, what would Jesus want for Christmas? He’s not interested in a PS3, an X-Box or a Blu-Ray. His concern is not a new tie, an authentic jersey from a sports team or the latest fragrance. If Jesus were with us and looking for a Christmas gift from us, His expectation would not be of the materialistic sort. He would want us to give Him something that will cost us nothing ($$) and yet at the same time will cost us everything. Jesus wants your soul.
Jesus came to seek and to save lost souls (Luke 19:10). His desire is for us to live for Him, so that we might live with Him in eternity. He wants us to
…love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind... (Luke 10:27)
The Lord wants us to be obedient to God’s word. If we have not done so, He wants us to believe (John 8:24), confess Him (Luke 12:8), repent of our sin (Luke 13:3) and be baptized (Mark 16:16), so that we might be saved. If we have done these – great! He wants us to continue in faithful service to Him.
We must lay aside the works of the flesh and walk in the way of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25). The Lord wants us to be assembled with His people as often as we’re able (Hebrews 3:13; 10:26ff). As we respond to His love (John 3:16), Jesus wants us to love Him in return (John 14:15) and also to love our brethren (1 John 3:16).
He said to His disciples,
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)
In Luke’s parallel to this, the word “daily” is added. He wants us to take up our cross every day – not just when we deem it to be convenient; not just when we are in the mood, not just when it suits us – He calls us to faithfulness all the time. When we obeyed the gospel, we made a lifetime commitment. Let us not fail to give Him our life, our all.
Will you determine to give yourself to the Lord? Don’t wait for Christmas day – He’d be happy for you to give yourself to Him today; today and every day.
And if you will commit yourself to the Lord in faithful service, may I suggest it is actually you who is receiving the gift, not Him. He wants us to obey the word of God, walk in the way of the Spirit, faithfully assemble with fellow Christians, and show our love for one another so we might receive the gift of God, the salvation of our souls! What a blessing to have such a great Saviour, who receiving faithful service from us will give us eternal life!
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
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