Christmas Devotional - Day 3: Christmas is About The Gifts

I am a slow learner. When you are raising kids it's often best to redirect rather than just shut them down. I learned that after my kids were grown. When our kids were small, one of the most repeated phrases leading up to Christmas was, "Christmas is not about the gifts." It would have been far better to redirect them to the actual basis for Christmas gift giving. The truth is, Christmas is all about the gifts.
 
When the magi finally located the Christ child in that meager stable, the Bible says And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Mt 2:11. That first Christmas, there was great meaning in the gifts of the magi. Gold indicates a king. Frankincense is the temple incense that points the prayers of the Saints offered up to God. Myrrh is the burial spice picturing His sacrifice for sin. The gifts indicate a king, who is God, the sacrifice for our sins.
 
But why would the magi bring gifts in the first place? Giving all you have is the natural response when you realize the gift that you have received. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Jn 3:16. Think of it, God gave. We were perishing, condemned, with no way out. Because of the looming fear of imminent death, we were subject to lifelong slavery (He 2:15). And God gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should NOT perish. God gave… Of course, the magi gave Him gifts… Of course we give Him gifts… We fall down and worship Him, giving Him all we have to give. Christmas is about the gifts. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2Co 9:15.
 
Close your eyes and take a moment to worship Him for the gift of Himself. Is there anything that you are withholding that needs to be offered to Christ as an expression of your gratitude for saving you?