Chris Howlett

Gift Suggestions

“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” –– Oren Arnold

Of course, the greatest Christmas gift of all is Christ, himself. Have you received this gift?

The tradition of gift giving and receiving began as a way to commemorate the gifts of the Magi which were given in Bethlehem some time after Jesus’ birth. We give and receive gifts as an integral part of our Christmas celebrations to remember these gifts, the gifts fit for a King. But truthfully, the one Christmas gift that matters the most is the gift of salvation.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” What do I do with a gift? I receive it. This is a most valuable gift, it cost Jesus his very life. I can’t earn it. I can’t do enough good things to count myself “worthy.” God’s gift is freely given. I can only receive it. And this I must do.

God’s gift to us is salvation. Our gift to God is what we do with his gift. This Christmas I want to receive that gift and live it. Live as one whose life has been redeemed, changed, transformed into the image of the Son.

Beginnings

“For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.” –– Frederick Buechner

Bethlehem is where it all begins: God’s rescue-mission for the world. Bethlehem, on so many levels, represents beginnings, not endings.

It is, first and foremost, the beginning of the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth. He and Joseph, and Mary didn’t stay long in Bethlehem, perhaps as many as two years, but probably less. He grew up elsewhere, mostly in Nazareth, a small village near Galilee, about a three day’s journey north of Bethlehem. Of course, they took a a detour through Egypt for a time. Then, as an adult, most of his ministry took place in the towns surrounding Galilee, ultimately making his way to Jerusalem and his confrontations with the authorities leading to his crucifixion, resurrection and eventual ascension. But it all began in Bethlehem. 

We have to go through our own Bethlehem. Bethlehem is the place of birth and each of us needs a new birth, a birth into real life, a life of hope, promise, and abundance. We need a new beginning, but we must understand, as sweet and wonderful as it is, it is the beginning. Our faith, just like Mary’s infant child, must grow into adulthood if we are to reach a destination of wholeness and join God in his rescue-mission for the world.

This Advent, as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of our Lord and King, let’s also celebrate the new birth he makes possible and pursue the maturity to which he calls us all.