Many times we get too involved with the hustle and bustle of Christmas. We can measure how good our holiday season is by how well we’re doing financially. When times are good we might say, “This is the best Christmas ever!” But we need to remember that the very first Christmas was the best Christmas ever. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
That’s what Christmas is all about. God loved the world so He gave. And we are to love others and spread what Christmas is all about to our world. John 3:16 may be a reality to us. But we need to make sure it becomes a reality in other people’s lives. Christmas is about giving. We give presents today because God gave the ultimate present—His only begotten Son. WE NEED TO REMEMBER HOW IMPORTANT GOD’S GIFT TO US IS. We shouldn’t do with Jesus what we’ve done with other gifts we’ve received.
When I was between one and two, someone gave me a toy that I named Jimmy Bear. For a time we were inseparable. He went everywhere with me. Then I got older and quit hauling him around. Jimmy just sat on my bed. I didn’t play with him much.
I still liked Jimmy Bear, but he wasn’t as important to me as he used to be.
“We give presents today because God gave the ultimate present—His only begotten Son.”
After a few years Jimmy went into the closet. I didn’t have time for him. Other things had become more important to me than he was.
Eventually I moved out of the house, and Jimmy ended up in a box in my parents’ attic. Even though he was still my toy, I stopped spending time with him.
That’s what we do with toys. As kids we get new toys at Christmas and for our birthdays. For a while, we think they’re the coolest thing in the world. Then we start playing with them only once in a while. Then we get bored with them and put them in the closet. Over time, they get relegated to the attic or maybe even a garage sale, and we never see them again.
Unfortunately, some of us treat Jesus like a toy. When we’re first saved, He’s important to us. We spend time with Him every day and tell others about Him. As life goes on we may still talk about Him, but often we get busy doing other things. WE MIGHT NOT INTEND FOR IT TO HAPPEN, BUT WE CAN END UP NOT SPENDING MUCH TIME WITH HIM.
We might relegate Jesus to our bedroom. We might pray and read our Bible once in a while, but we don’t really fellowship with Him. He’s no longer an important part of our life. We may even get to a point where Jesus ends up in the closet and our Bible gets dusty.
Friend, Jesus is not a toy. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Jesus Christ is standing at the door of our hearts right now. He’s knocking and saying, “Let me in. I want our relationship to be like it used to be. I want you to know Me like you used to know Me.”
Maybe you haven’t been spending much time with Jesus. I hope this reminds you to change that—not just on Christmas Day, but every day. Don’t let Him become like a toy.
Second Corinthians 6:16 says, “God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Before long, our Christmas gifts will be in the closet. They’re just things. But Jesus will be with us for eternity, not in our closet but in our heart. He wants to walk with us and be our guide. WE JUST NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN.
Author
Craig W. Hagin
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