My Gift to You

Christmas is always associated with gifts and presents. It is a good time for expressing our love and care to people, in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. In the countryside where I grew up, we did not have proper access to buying polished or virtuous things, so gift was uncommon to me even today.

The gift of the Magi or Three Wise Men, from the East, interested us; it was valuable in their time and till today. Each gift of the Magi – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – had their own meaning, depicting the life which the baby in the manger would be living. (Matthew 2) Although I cannot say with certainty, the idea of gift during Christmas time must have originated from here.

In the dale of the Khuga River, when Christmas time arrived, somehow, I have hope that my parents would get me surprise gift in the form of shirt or pants which was impossible even in my best calculated expenditure. If not, I would spend the entire festivities envying friends. And that is how much it means to us.

Now, should I be in the position to give gifts the lists would be long as it yet there are restraints in several area of life. I have to give something to people so they can exchange with my gift. I don’t want to waste my thought about that. Instead, I need to dig deeper to the gift I can offer to the king who died for my sake.

Without believing the message of Christ, if I am celebrating Christmas every year, I’d be like an empty vessel making a nuisance in the eyes of the Lord. Believing the gospel and telling it to mountains could be our best gift to the new born king.

As we sat down discussing with my children about the gift of the Magi what they represent, we are taken back to the Shepherds outside Bethlehem. And as I relate the story to my children, I emphasized on the faith of the shepherds and their actions.

The Gifts We Can Give:

Everyone can gift something to Jesus but not humans. For our gift to human we need money or something we can see and feel. But to God our faith; believing and accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ, by re-affirming it in our words and deeds to him, is one of our gifts.

This year too, several departments in our church will organize Gift Exchange program, till now I have heard that the Children Department will be organizing it, which my children are looking forward to it. Low cost gifts, so that everyone would received and give in same value, and not a burden for some is always the rule.

In that way, we had already received the biggest gift for mankind in the birth of Christ. What can we give it back to God as an exchange; I understand we will never match his gift, to our Savior? It is not a talk of money, big gifts, but beyond that.

The Gift of the Shepherds:

The shepherds outside Bethlehem came in my mind. The Shepherds saw the multitude of angels singing in the loneliness of the night. They rushed to see, probably with a staff in their hands, if what the angel told them was true.

In the meantime, they had NO GIFT for the baby; and that’s right. Yet they believed in the message that they had heard from the angel so they followed it, run to Bethlehem to see the new born king. Let us read from the Bible:

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Gift: Faith in Action:

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:9-12, 15, 16)
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

There was not mention of debating among them, whether to check out if it’s true or not, was not mentioned. So we cannot go beyond that. Here, they unanimously go to Bethlehem as to put their faith in action.

Their faith in action, firstly, helps them find out the new born savior. Secondly, it instilled the will to spread the about what they had seen, in other words, they want to spread about the good news.

Glorifying and Praising God:

Here is another way, very important and heart-warming, of giving gift to God – glorifying and praising the Lord from our heart.

In the past, all the church members sing and dance with drum made of animal skin starting the night before Christmas after church services. We locally called it as “Lengkhawm/Lengkhom” in my native language, singing local hymns glorifying and praising to the heart’s content.

Most of us, the abiders of the higher latitude, are looking forward to this Singspiration with a touch of culture and tradition when Christmas is nigh.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (John 2:20)

Paul and Silas were attacked, put in inner cell and their feet fastened. Yet about midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God even in their back-breaking situation giving them a good way to spread the gospel there and then. (Acts 16:22-29)

In the end, dear readers, we had already received our gift: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Believing in his messages and the gospel he brings.

Although he had many people like me if he wanted someone in my place, I offer myself as a gift to him, this Christmas. What is your gift? Or What would be your gift?

My Gift to You:

You are the Owner of me.
I re-affirm my faith in you.
Let you be the anchor of my life.
I offer myself as a gift to you, this Christmas!
In my state of fear and fastened feet
I will sing more to you,
Praising you even more.

Jesus, you’re my gift
My greatest gift in life
Your love, your body
Your grace and mercy
I have no gift worthy of you
My little faith; weak heart
Is my only gift to You.

With empty hands, I come to you
Yet with a heart full of praise
I have nothing to offer you
For me to be saved eternally
Sending your son on Christmas day
Dying on Calvary’s cross for me.
I offer my life to you,
I’m nothing without you.

This Christmas, my Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ, my Gift to You is my little faith; believing in the words of you. I am glad you found me. I have nothing worthy to give you, except my frailing heart. Let me be true to you.