I'm not going to border on corny here. I'm going to leap well across that line and just ask - if Jesus had a stocking, what would you put in it? We talk about Christmas as Jesus' birthday, and say "Remember the reason for the season," and get angry when people replace "Christ" with an X on their tacky yard decorations (even though X is an ancient symbol for Christ). But, seriously, how can we practically do these things we speak of? How can we keep Him first and make Christmas about Christ? Like the Little Drummer Boy, what gift would you bring?
Fortunately, Scripture is never silent in response to any question we may ask. The Bible is very clear on what we can and should bring to the feet of Jesus. He is not interested in half-hearted or begrudging gifts. But, nothing He asks of us can be given in that way. It takes a whole heart, a gift given out of love and gratitude, to be a gift fit for the King. Here are three perfect Christmas gifts to consider.
Obedience. John 15:14 says so plainly, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." A fitting gift this Christmas could be a careful study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) or any other selection from His Word and make thoughtful application to your thoughts and actions. When we claim that we keep Christ first at Christmas while living a life contrary to His commandments, He is not impressed and we are deceiving only ourselves.
Service. Paul consistently refers to himself as a slave to Christ. And, how does he serve his Master? By serving and growing the Body of Christ. Jesus makes this very personal in Matthew 25:34-40 where he teaches that what we do for the most helpless we do for Jesus himself - "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Serve the Church. Serve the needy. This is a gift Christ will receive.
Worship. God says to a wayward Israel, "For I desire faithfulness and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6). One of the problems with our Evangelical subculture is that we've confused music and worship (see, Worship). Worship covers a broad gamut of things like obedience and service. Hosea 6:6 reveals that faithfulness and even accurate knowledge are prerequisites to the more ceremonial or liturgical forms of worship. In short, if the lifestyle is not worshipful Jesus is not pleased with even the most emotional performance of, "O Come, Let Us Adore Him." Clean your hands in inward worship and then lift them in outward worship. This will honor Christ this Christmas.
One closing thought: We must not permit ourselves to be puffed up in giving these gifts. When/if we do, we are no longer giving to Him - we are giving to ourselves. "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:10). The worthiness of our Master makes the service joyful. Give Him obedience, service, and worship this Christmas from a joyful heart yielded fully to Him. Then you will have a very merry Christmas.
