For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)

When you’re a child, Christmas is all about receiving gifts. In December, your head is swimming with nothing but images of your favorite toys. 

But the true message of Christmas is not the presents we give to one another.  The true meaning is the gift that God gave to us, His Son Jesus Christ. 

During the next two days, I want to point out to you three things about the gift God gave to us in that tiny manger in Bethlehem.

The first thing we want to realize about God’s gift to us is that it came in simple wrapping. Some people will go to great lengths to wrap presents beautifully. But God’sgift came to us not in beautiful, ornate wrapping, but in a dirty manger found in a cold cave in a little-known town called Bethlehem. 

That’s the beauty of the Christmas event. Jesus took His place in a manger so that we might have a home in heaven. The Savior was not wrapped in satin sheets, but in common rags. There in a manger rested the greatest gift in the plainest of wrapping.

The second thing I want to point out about God’s gift to us is that we don’t deserve it.  Consider this: God gave us the ultimate gift of His Son Jesus Christ while we were still sinning against Him (see Romans 5:8). 

We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve His gift. That is the amazing truth of Christmas. Despite who we are, God sent His Son so “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

With Christmas just days away, begin to prepare your heart for the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Meditate on the fact that Jesus was born to die so that we might live.

This devotion blessed me when I read it and I felt it needed to be shared. At times during this season we can become so overwhelmed with expectations that we need to just stop and remind ourselves and others what the true meaning of Christmas is. I couldn’t help but sense the stress, frustration and rudeness from many people while I was at the store the other day but as this devotion mentions, it is our responsibility to show the true meaning of this season and why we truly celebrate Christmas. It’s not for the gifts but for the one true gift, Jesus Christ and He alone. Jesus was born to die so that we might live. Let us show love, joy, patience and kindness today and every day. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. That’s the true meaning of Christmas. Let us not forget why He was born, so that we might live.

Have a beautiful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Romans 5:8, John 3:16