By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

The Great Secret of Giving

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“Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 10:8b New International Version

At Christmas it is many people’s custom to give gifts to loved ones.  Often people give gifts to those whom they know will give gifts to them.  Such is the obligation many people feel.

But the gifts in this picture are not for those who will give gifts back to the giver.  They are a small portion of the gifts given from folks at Trinity to families in poverty who have need for clothing and gifts for their children.  The people who give the gifts will probably not meet those children to whom they give gifts and they will certainly not receive presents back from them.

So why do the people give gifts if they will not receive gifts back?  The answer is simple; because they have already received the greatest free gift in the whole world; their salvation in Jesus Christ.  Because God has freely given us His own Son, because we have received of His mercy and love and kindness, we can show that mercy and love and kindness to others.

This is the great secret of giving at Christmas.  People are reminded that God has sent Jesus as the great Gift of God, so their hearts are full of the joy of giving as the Lord has given to them.  Like the shepherds who received the good news from the angels on that first Christmas morning, so also we have received the Good News of Jesus birth, death, and resurrection.   If we have received so much goodness from Him, how can we not share it with others?

Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your own Son.  Fill our hearts to overflowing with the joy of receiving Your Gift that we might freely share Jesus with all this Christmas.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado