All.For.Us

1John 5:11 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

While many are decorating trees and shopping for gifts for Christmas, I have been contemplating something else, not that I don't frequently.

Christmas is about our Savior's birth. There are different views of the timing of His birth. Some say fall, some say spring. That's not all that important. It's important to  know the real reason for our celebrating. Jesus came to us from on high, was born in the flesh for the salvation of everyone who would believe in Him, was crucified and rose again!  I can't separate His birth from His death and all the time in between. He can be celebrated every day. 

When He was born He gave us the greatest gift of all. It's not about us but about Him. To me the most important part about His birth is the life He gives to us through this birth and a new birth within us when we give our hearts and lives to Him. 

We give gifts like the wise men did. They understood this baby boy was something special. It was His gift of His life for us that is special. His death. And in return we die to ourselves that we might have life. His whole life is an example for us: Being born again in the Spirit, dying to self and living as He lived to share His glorious mercy, grace and salvation. It's one of those fabulous mysteries of God. 

I need not go into the commercialism we see around Christmas. I want this to be about Jesus. He came for the most important reason and I seem to struggle trying to convey this. It's so simple yet sometimes so hard to understand. 

Christ came to this earth not that we lavish each other with gifts but that He would be our humble gift to us.  The shepherds, first to arrive, offered nothing but their humble worship. Perhaps they offered a lamb to the Child who would eventually be our ultimate sacrificial Lamb. 

Everything about the birth of Jesus was amazing. Conceived by the Holy Spirit. Born in a humble stable and sleeping in a feeding trough. A King with humble beginnings and an even humbler, yet tragic, end.  All.for.us. That's what I want to think about at Christmas. It's so not about us. 

Is Jesus the central part of our Christmas celebration? Is His name brought up? Is the Christmas story shared? 

Christmas can be an everyday thing...should be. His death and resurrection are just as important. It's why I can't separate any part of His earthly life. All He did for us.... All.for.us. THIS is one amazing God. I pray He becomes a deeper meaning this year. 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.