Give the Greatest Gift
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16
Today is the beginning of Christmas week and most people are out buying presents for their family and friends. But in addition to worldly gifts, we should give the greatest gift, God’s love. God gave us the greatest gift, his Son who died on the cross with our sins, and he sends the Holy Spirit to guide us through life into our Heavenly home.
Christmas is a time to enjoy the season and also a time to reflect Christ’s loving and compassionate heart. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20) Christ lives in the believer and we reflect his love, peace, and joy to others.
During the Christmas season make a strong effort to reflect Christ’s love in every circumstance. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). Remember this list and use it to show the Lord’s love.
Satan does not want us to reflect God’s love or to tell others the good news about Christ. He will do anything to try and stop us. Beware that we are in a spiritual war and during this Christmas keep your spiritual sword and fight evil by calling on the power of Christ to guarantee victory. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:14) We fight with our spiritual sword by being still inside and following the Spirit. The Lord will lead us to victory as we follow him.
Today, remember it’s the first day of the Christmas week. Be Christ-like reflecting the Lord’s love. Refuse to let Satan take hold of your emotions and take away the Lord’s love, peace, and joy that he has put in your heart.
Prayer: Lord, guide me in the Spirit to always reflect your love, peace, and joy to others, and to tell others about Christ whenever the opportunity arises. Fill my heart with the spirit of love and giving, just as you gave your Son to die on the cross for my sins. I can never be worthy of what Christ did for me, but help me to reflect Christ’s love to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen