Not Mine: The Christmas Gift

I remember when our son was born. I was alone in my hospital room, my baby at my side in a plastic bassinet. It was so wonderful to have a boy. We hadn’t known his gender before he was born and would have been just as happy with a girl. (We already had a girl and knew how special our little princess was.) We knew God would give us the best for our family. So, what a happy surprise to have a son! We were thrilled and named him David—meaning beloved.

That night, all alone, I gave him back to God, to be and do whatever God would want for his life. Our son, beloved, a special gift to our family. But, he wasn’t mine in the first place. He was God’s baby already.

Way back in Jesus’ day, the disciples were with Jesus and observed a widow dropping two coins into the temple treasury. It was nothing, but it was everything she had. She gave. But, those two mites were God’s—lent to her by the Almighty—for the purpose of teaching a lesson to the disciples and to us, today. (Luke 21:1-4)

Black Friday, Cyber Monday . . . . Get all you can get! Get it first! Get it cheap! Trample, grapple, push, and shove. Get, get, get.

Christmas.

I think we have it all upside down, topsy-turvy, wrong.

The whole world belongs to our Great Creator. For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof (1 Corinthians 10:26).

Any blessing we have comes from God and is God’s.

Our very life is God’s. For in him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28a).

God blesses and sustains the earth. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God (Hebrews 6:7). Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3a).

Marriage and family are from the Lord. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:6). A prudent wife is from the LORD (Psalm 19:14b). Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 127:3).

Salvation is from God, through Jesus Christ. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah (Psalm 3:8). For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

Spiritual blessings are from God and in Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

The hope (sure thing) of the resurrection is in Jesus. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).

The Good News—gospel—is entrusted to us, so that we’ll share it. According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust (1 Timothy 1:11).

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At Christmastime, when everyone’s busy buying and giving, let’s remember that nothing at all is really ours. It’s all been entrusted to us.

Jesus stooped so very far to become flesh and dwell among us. I don’t think we can ever fathom the amazingness of it: the infinite Creator becoming just like the creature—only without sin. It blows the mind! Jesus sacrificing Himself for sinners; it’s more than one can take in. Infinite love, patience, and care. God wanting a relationship with poor, fallible, and many times, ugly sinners.

This is the giving that’s behind Christmas! 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 (John 3:16).

Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,

and honour, and power, and might,

be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

(from Revelation 7:12)

Photos from www.freebibleimages.com.