Giving God Joy by Receiving His Gifts with Thankfulness.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

We made it! It’s Christmas! The culmination of all we’ve waited for throughout advent; hope, love, joy and peace. All of these are free gifts from God to us through Jesus Christ. What do we have to give?

Have you experienced a financially rough Christmas? Sometimes the gifts under the tree can look a little sparse. It’s difficult to receive from others when we feel like we have little or nothing to give in return. It feels like we need to tell everyone not to get us anything. However, what if that really brings them? Perhaps this is their way of expressing love.  Have you considered that receiving their gifts with thanksgiving is a gift you can give?

It’s easy to get caught up in this same feeling when we consider Jesus and all He gives us. We stand before Him, celebrating His birthday, and have nothing to offer. What can we possibly give to the one who humbled Himself, the High King of Heaven, born a helpless child in undue circumstance?

“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men”.
Philippians 2:6-7 English Standard Version

Jesus was born into this world, experiencing life on this earth with all of its ups and downs, for our sake. He did this because He loves us. What He desires in return is for us to love Him. He wants us to accept the gifts He has given us. First, we open the gift of eternal life. Next we begin opening the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We rip our packages open quickly to see what’s inside, or we carefully peel back the tape and fold up the wrapping. However we deal with the packaging, it gives God pleasure when we receive our gifts with joy and thanksgiving.

It has never been about what we have to offer Him, but all about what He has to offer us. Enjoy His blessings this Christmas as you thank Him for each one.

Text and Photo Copyright Richelle Hecker