What do you want for Christmas?
What do you want for Christmas?
Christmas is a time of giving, a time when we celebrate with friends and family, and give and receive gifts.
We all like to receive gifts, and we should be thankful and satisfied for all we have received from others.
It’s not longing for what we don’t have. It’s being thankful for what do have.
A great truth is this, there are some things greater physical presents;
1. What I Want for Christmas is Hope - Isaiah 64:104
2. What I Want for Christmas is Peace - Luke 2:8-14
3. What I Want for Christmas is Joy - Matthew 1:18-25
4. What I Want for Christmas is a PERSONAL Savior - Luke 2:1-7
The power of the Christmas story is that Jesus came to bring healing to our troubled lives and hearts.
A. His Love (Heart)
B. His Life (His All)
C. His Forgiveness and reconciliation (Cross)
D. His Words, truth and Promises (Bible)
Since God gave His best, then shouldn’t we give our best this Christmas?
What can we give to Jesus in this holiday season and beyond?
What do we give to God, who has everything?
THE GREATEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN GIVE HIM THIS CHRISTMAS IS YOURSELF.
GIVE HIM YOUR TALENTS, YOUR ABILITIES, YOUR WEAKNESSES, YOUR DREAMS, YOUR FUTURE, IN OTHER WORDS GIVE HIM YOUSELF.
THE GIFT THAT GOD WANTS FROM YOU.
YOUR LIFE, DREAMS AND TRUST
ACCEPT HIM AS THE LAMB FOR YOUR LIFE
ACCEPT HIM AS THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE
ACCEPT HIM AS LORD IN YOUR LIFE
ACCEPT HIM AS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE
What Does the Lord Require?
Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Micah 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul
Matthew 22:37 Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”
And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Matthew 18:22 Forgiving those who have wronged us can be very difficult, but Jesus emphasizes the importance of forgiveness. He tells us to forgive not just seven times, but “seventy times seven” Holding onto anger and bitterness only hurts us, while forgiveness frees our hearts.
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep my commandments
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Let’s consider the importance of the first Gifts Jesus Received.
FROM THE MAGI
The Magi, or Wise Men, are significant in Christianity as they represent the acknowledgment of Jesus as the King by non-Jewish figures, symbolizing the universal appeal of his message.
Their visit, guided by a star, highlights themes of devotion, recognition of divine presence, and the importance of seeking truth.
Nothing was going to keep these noble men from standing in the presence of Jesus.
* They made it a priority to pursue the Lord
* They came to worship
* Nothing could divert them from their way!
* They not only worshiped Jesus with their words and their time, but they also worshiped Him with a generous offering.
* Unselfish Giving:
Gold (King) / Frankincense (Divinity) / Myrrh (Death)
It was not the gift as much as what it took to get it.
(Illustration) Missionary on a Pacific Island was celebrating a birthday. Many of the islanders were bringing her gifts, but one in particular touched her. One young man brought her a beautiful seashell. But the thing that made it so spectacular was the shells could only be found on one beach of the island very far away. When the missionary made mention of it, the young man said, the distance is part of the gift. IT WAS NOT THE GIFT AS MUCH AS WHAT IT TOOK TO GET IT.
Abel’s offering (Genesis 4:4)
In Genesis 4:4, Abel offered the best of his flock, which touched God’s heart. This showed the power of a spiritual sacrifice that’s accepted through faith.
God appreciated Abel’s genuine intention and devotion. On the other hand, Cain’s offering was not accepted due to the lack of faith and sincerity.
This story demonstrates the importance of GIVING OUR BEST TO GOD, not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us.
The widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44)
Mark 12:41-44 recounts the story of the widow’s offering, where Jesus praises a poor widow for giving all she had, even though it was just a few small coins.
It was worth just a few cents. Jesus considered it more valuable than the larger contributions of the wealthy because she gave sacrificially from her poverty.
THIS PASSAGE SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT THE TRUE VALUE OF OUR OFFERINGS TO GOD ISN’T MEASURED BY THE MONETARY AMOUNT, BUT RATHER BY THE HEART AND WILLINGNESS TO GIVE SACRIFICIALLY, EVEN WHEN IT’S A SMALL AMOUNT.
ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS WE CAN OFFER JESUS IS OUR HEART.
Proverbs 23:26 NKJV My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.
This isn't just about emotional affection; it's about our will, our desires, and our very essence.
When we surrender our heart to Jesus, we are inviting Him to transform us from the inside out, aligning our lives with His divine purpose.
CONCLUSION
Yet, there was another name mentioned in this Christmas story and his name was King Herod.
And what did he give Jesus? Rejection
What will we give to Jesus?
Rejection or Your Best, or what is only convenient for you.
We give our best to God when we give our best to all around us.
