After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.  Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.    Matthew 2:9-12 NASB

Over 2,000 years ago, the world was in a terrible mess kind of like it is today. Sin was rampant, evil was all around. God knew that us mere mortals with our sinful nature needed a savior. So, as we discussed yesterday, He came to earth as a baby boy so that He could take on the sin of the world and save us from our own sinful selves. So the best gift ever was given on the first Christmas when Christ was born. But our scripture passage today speaks of some magi or wise men as they are commonly called. These wise men were astrologers. They saw this star in the east that they knew would lead them to baby Jesus. They first went to King Herod as they were looking for a newborn king. Herod was troubled thinking that this baby would have been sent to take over his throne. He began plotting to kill baby Jesus. When they left Herod, the star reappeared and guided them to the exact house where Mary and Joseph were with their son. They fell to the ground and worshipped, praised, and adored Him. They presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts were worthy of a king and were also symbolic. The gold was symbolic of His deity.  The frankincense symbolized His purity.  The myrrh symbolized his impending death as it was used in embalming.

Our next scripture passage says that they were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod as Herod had instructed them to do, but to go another way back to their own country. God protected them as He was protecting baby Jesus and Joseph and Mary. These wise men worshiped Jesus and presented Him with gifts and in return were protected and guided by God.

When we speak of gifts, we often say that it is better to give than to receive. But don’t you hate to get caught in that situation where a friend that you didn’t realize or plan to exchange gifts with gets you a really nice, expensive gift and there you are with nothing to offer them? But this Christmas we can receive and we can give. We don’t have to rush into the nearest store to get this gift, we don’t have to wrap it with fancy paper and a big bow. We don’t have to stand in line to pay for it. We simply need to receive the gift that is so freely given and give our gift in return.

I am speaking of the gift of salvation. You see, God so freely offered up His son over 2,000 years ago for miserable sinners like me and you. He gave a gift that we could never afford and certainly don’t deserve. But he gave it that we might have the opportunity to spend eternity in glory with God the Father. He gave it so that we may be able to have eternal life (John 3:16). But the question is what will you do with it? Will you lay it aside and think about using it later? Will you trash it? Or, will you freely accept it?

Now the next question is what will you give Him this Christmas? What will you give the God who has and controls everything? Well, there is one thing that He chooses not to control, but that He would love to have. That’s your whole heart. Are you willing to give Him your whole heart this Christmas? Are you willing to box up the bitterness, anger, and wrath that you have been carrying around and give that over to Him? Are you willing to box up the language that you use that perhaps you shouldn’t and give that over to Him? Are you willing to box up any sinful ways along with a sincere apology and a request for Him to send His Holy Spirit to fill your heart to help you give up your sinful ways?

All He wants for Christmas is you. Is that just too much for you to give? Now, before you answer that, let me explain something to you. If you give God your all this Christmas and commit to love Him with your whole heart, soul, and mind, He will give you all He has to offer. His gift is so much better than anything we have to offer. He will give you peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). He will give you unending joy (Isaiah 35:10). He will give you life everlasting (John 3:16). He will give you wisdom (James 1:5). He will give you protection (Psalm 91).

If you understand nothing else, you need to understand this. There is nothing that you will ever give up that can ever compare to what God gives His children. I promise that anything you have to give up to follow Him, you will not miss. You will be glad you made that choice. So why not give God all He wants for Christmas today and throughout the year?

Have a very Merry Christmas!