What Is Up With This World?

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” - Isaiah 4:14 (NIV)

As I prepared to make out my “list” of gifts I would like to give to various loved ones this Christmas, the words of Isaiah 7:14 came to mind. Is it not truly wonderful to know that God sent his only son for us; that he prepared for a long while and finally sent the promised one? Is that not the greatest gift ever known to mankind?

Our Savior’s coming was foretold in several places in the Bible. No one could have been prepared for such an awesome coming or such a truly indescribable “gift”. Nothing that we ask for or receive this Christmas could compare.

As the time nears for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I have begun noticing the decorations at various retail outlets and it seems as if every year, they are put up earlier and earlier. Let us not lose sight of what Christmas is truly about. It is not about what we give as gifts or how much we spend on them, but rather it is a time of reflection on the greatest gift ever given – our Savior, Jesus Christ.

To some, Christmas has become nothing more than another "commercial" holiday. Many of us have lost sight of what is important. It is not about the receipt of Nintendo Wiis, new vehicles, diamond jewelry, new furniture, bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, perfume, or anything of the sort. It is by far the most important holiday on our calendars. We should be mindful of the gift we received in Jesus Christ, so that we may carry on his work. When we stand in line at Target or Wal-Mart, though the crowds may be many and the shopping experience hectic, we should make certain that we give a genuine smile - or even word of encouragement - to the cashier who is most definitely overworked and underpaid or to the elderly greeter as we enter or leave. We should make sure we smile at the small children making their way through the aisles or even a stranger at the moment our eyes meet in a crowd. While we should also consider donating our time and tithing, however small or large, we should always remember that it may be the small things that make a difference. We never know when we just might be in the company of angels. We should be thankful for the small things we have, as we are fortunate to live in one of the greatest countries in this world. Let us not lose sight of what is and has always been most important.

Let us be ever thankful that we were loved enough to have been sent the most precious gift of all, a Savior who is perfect in every way. Let us reflect upon this and let us see Him everywhere around us – in our spouses, children, grandchildren, fellow church members, co-workers and the like. Let us be ever mindful of what Christmas is really about – the birth of Jesus Christ – and what that really means for us.

PRAYER: Dear God, we are thankful for the ultimate gift with which you so willingly blessed us. Open our hearts and minds so that we may be able to accept it, in all its wonder. Amen.