When [the wisemen] had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11 (New Revised Standard Version)

The holiday season is often a time of chaos as people scramble to complete their Christmas shopping. Every year I tell myself that I will start earlier, yet I somehow end up with people I’m still shopping for at the last minute. While it is nice to share gifts with one another during this time of giving, it is important for us to remember the true reason for the season.

The birth of our savior Jesus is the reason we celebrate so merrily each year. It is this gift from God that is the greatest of all, and it is one that He gave to us because of His everlasting love. One gift we can give in return is to offer our hands and feet for sharing His love with the rest of the world. Perhaps this could be done through singing a carol about God’s glory, volunteering time to help the less fortunate, or making a donation to a charity. If we love each other the way God loves us, His love will spread and people will be reminded to thank God for all that He does for us. Through sharing our time, money, and talents, we spread the love of God, which is truly the gift that keeps on giving. As we stop to recall this, we can thank God by taking a moment to give Him praise. Even a simple prayer to show our appreciation would be valuable to our ever-loving God.

Wondering While Waiting: Reflect on some of the valuable gifts that we can offer to God

Brittany – Inspire. Ignite. Invite.

Shiloh Lutheran Church, Walton, IN