For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

With Christmas only a few days away, what if this year we all made a commitment to be focused on the gifts that matter more than anything we can make ourselves or buy at the store?

The gifts that can never be bought or earned?

The best gifts ever that are freely given and ready to be accepted by all who would receive them?

After all, Christmas began with the giving of the greatest gift of all time: the gift of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, come to earth as a babe born in a humble stable to a young woman who answered the call of her God. But the coming of God to man in the flesh was not the end of the gift.

Thirty-three years later the Son of God gave His life that we might live (John 3:16, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Sweet friend, when we choose to receive the gift of salvation that Christ prepared for all people, God gives us other gifts through the Holy Spirit. While salvation is the gift for all, the spiritual gifts we receive after accepting Christ are unique to us (1 Corinthians 12:4, Romans 12:4-6).

While we can share the news of our salvation with others, salvation is only received by accepting Christ as the Son of God and believing on Him and on the Father (John 14:6).

The spiritual gift that we receive though is something that we can and should and are even directed to use in service to others for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:12).

No believer’s gift is to be hoarded. No gift is superior to another.

All gifts are necessary for God’s will to be accomplished (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

The gift of salvation brings us together as one body in Christ; the spiritual gift we receive gives us a role in that body (1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

This Christmas instead of focusing on the types of gifts that we would normally give – toys, clothes, electronics – imagine how much closer our families would become, how much stronger our communities would be, if we focused instead on celebrating and sharing the news of the greatest gift that was ever given to anyone we meet and on using our spiritual gifts to bring more love and kindness and truth to our world by serving others for God’s glory and not for our own gratification.

Imagine if we all gave of our time and our talents and our treasures to everyone we see every day – what a world that would be! What peace and joy we would experience! What a difference it would make for so many!

I’m all in for the Kingdom of the Lord not just this season but all seasons! I’m ready to give for others as Christ has given for me.