Giving The Ultimate Gift

‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them’ Luke 2:17-18 [NIV]

I hope you plan to give gifts this Christmas. Christmas offers an amazing opportunity for everyone to give gifts of love to one another. God gave His Son Jesus and Jesus gave His life. It is because God gave that is why we can even celebrate Christmas today. Now the ball is in our court. What will you give your friends, family, in-laws, neighbors or even your enemies? God’s word to us today is that the ultimate gift that anyone can give is the gift of Christ Jesus. ‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them’ Luke 2:17-18 NIV. The shepherds understanding the value of what they had seen took the ultimate gift and spread it abroad. The shepherds were not content with keeping Jesus to themselves. This is an example to follow. God wants us to have the same attitude. Research shows that people respond to God differently at different seasons. However there are five top seasons where people are open to responding to God. The fifth on the list is after the birth of a new baby. Research shows that 28% of people are open to God after the birth of a new baby. The fourth on the list is after a natural disaster, 34%of people are open to God. The third on the list is after a major national crisis, for instance a civil war or the recession. 38% of people are open to God. Second on the list is during the Easter season, 38% people are open to God. Christmas season tops the list. People are open to God the most this season we are in 47% of people. This Christmas season, God wants us to give the ultimate gift – the gift of Jesus. The question is will you give that gift this season? Jesus is saying to us to use this amazing opportunity before us to share the ultimate gift with people around us. God is waiting on us to seize the opportunity Christmas presents to win those people that are close to us but far from God. And God is waiting on you to bridge the gap with the ultimate gift.

Prayer: Lord, I ask for opportunities to share the ultimate gift of Jesus this season, in Jesus name.