Shortly after Reg and I were married, we invited some friends over for a Christmas party. The tree shimmered with decorations of red and gold. Packages tied in shining bows snuggled under the tree. Nametags spelled the names of each recipient. There was no mistake. Every man, woman and child would receive two or three gifts and when Santa came, it would be a magnificent celebration of giving and getting.

When our friends arrived they were carrying a beautifully decorated cake complete with candles and frosting roses. I know I looked puzzled, but I didn’t ask the question.

One of the younger children piped up, “Whose birthday?”

The guest smiled politely, “This is a cake for Jesus; it is His birthday, you know.”

I was glad I hadn’t asked the question. I hate feeling like a stooge. I should have known that. Of course, who doesn’t understand the meaning of Christmas? It is just that we never really treated it like a birthday. It was always a celebration of giving and getting with little thought of whose birthday it was and who should be getting the gifts.

I have thought of it often since then, and I want to share some gifts that Jesus would enjoy if He were on the earth. Each letter of Christmas will represent a gift.

C stands for: Come unto Christ
The story of the rich young man will help us understand what it means to “Come unto Christ.”

“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:17-24)

Christ doesn’t expect us to give up everything we have and give it to the poor, but He wants us to put Him first in our lives. Consider how He would spend your money if He had it. How would He spend your time if He had it? What would He want you to do with your bounty? Even in times of scarcity in America, we have more than any other people throughout history.

H stands for: Honor His Holy Day
Since the beginning of time, God has asked that we honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy. He even set the example for us. In six days He worked to create the earth, and on the seventh day He rested. What if we really stopped everything for one day to honor Him and express thanks for all the blessings we have received at His hand?

“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.” (Levi 23:3)

R stands for: Remember our Redeemer
“O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.” (Psalms 105:1-8)

This beautiful psalm says it all. We need to speak of Jesus often and let the world know what a great blessing He has been in our lives.

I stands for: Instructed of the Lord
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:18-19)

It is hard to get ahead of the Lord. The more we seek Him and keep his commandments, the more He blesses us, but what joy He must have when we accept the awesome gift of His great sacrifice. He bowed on the cross for us, and gave His life to give us salvation. Rejoice in His gift. Let Him know that He did not give His life in vain.

S stands for: Scripture study
Reading the Holy Scriptures is a way to grow close to Jesus. If we don’t know who He is, it is pretty hard to follow Him. Let us learn of Him as He remembers us. In Isaiah He said,

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”(Isaiah 4:16)

T stands for: Take time to thank Him
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:17-20)

In other words spend some time seeking the Spirit of the Lord. Fill your minds with poems and hymns of righteousness. Even if you can’t sing aloud, sing in your heart. Try a few carols of love as a Christmas gift.

M stands for: Make many miracles
The ministry of Jesus was filled with miracles. He made the lame to walk and the leper to be cleansed. He caused the blind to see and He raised the dead. We cannot make those kinds of miracles on our own, but we can cause miracles to happen. Consider the homeless family who has no food or warm clothing.

Consider the child who will not get a gift for Christmas. Think of the widow who sits alone in an empty house. When you ease the burden of someone without hope, it is perceived as a miracle.

We may not be able to give sight to the blind physically, but what about lifting the curtain of spiritual darkness? Maybe there is a person who has not experienced the mercy of God. Would not sharing your devotion to Jesus free him or her from spiritual blindness?

Christmas is a time for making miracles for Jesus.

A stands for: Always wear the armor of God
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17)

What could possibly be a better gift than for Christ to know that we are ready at any moment to defend Him in any situation and that we are prepared with his armor to do so?

S stands for: Service

Finally, the gift that will be the most important for Jesus on Christmas would be to treat all men and women as He would treat them. As He said anciently in a parable:

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40)

Let us not forget the reason for the season. Jesus was born that all might live again. Let us live for Him and give Merry Christmas and happy birthday gifts to the one who made it all possible. PD