It is almost impossible to go into the Christmas season without thinking about the gift! Most will think long and hard on what they will give to their family, friends and even business associates. Some will plan the budget carefully. Others will painstakingly coordinate their shopping route in order to find the best bargains and be the most productive with their time. Many will put on their creative hats and make an artful present from scratch or even cook and bake the most unbelievable sweets or goodies. Still, others will have great difficulty with the gift! Just what is the ultimate gift this Christmas?

At some point this season, most of us will remember and even dwell on the true meaning of Christmas; the birth of Christ, the savior of the world. We will be generous to others, do good things for others, have a good attitude, be full of good cheer and give heartfelt gifts. Spiritually speaking, the ultimate gift is eternal life, found in the ‘reason for the season,’ Jesus (Rom 6:23; James 1:17, 18). God’s word is clear. The ultimate gift is the ability to live a “right life” through the power of God’s Spirit living in us (see Rom 5:17; Acts 10:45). Along with the ultimate gift, God has a specific reason for the gift. He told Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) that this ultimate gift would not only be a blessing, but it would empower him, and all who would accept His ultimate gift, to be a blessing to others. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 that because of the gift we have received, we do not lack anything we need to be a blessing to others-we have been given spiritual gifts!

So we see then, we have been given the ultimate gift, eternal life. The source of that gift is God. The recipient of the gift is us-believers in Christ. The reason for the gift is for us to be blessed and to be a blessing to others. There is also a command that goes with the gift. God desires for us to use the gift he has given in order to serve and extend to others His grace. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

“You have a gift. But a gift is something that is given. You don’t own it; the Lord does. The Lord is asking you to use it.” –Oswald Chambers

What’s your gift? How will you use it this holiday season? Hopefully we all will think long and hard about giving it to family and friends; we will plan and coordinate using it; we will be creative and artful in presenting it to others; and we will have no difficulty sharing the ultimate gift!

Merry Christmas!