[1]Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? [2] Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.
[3] Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. [4] Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
[5] Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. [7] He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. [8] And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.
Philip. 2:1-8
The tradition of giving Christmas gifts has become so infused with the celebration of the holiday that many think of the gifts as the reason for Christmas. Thanksgiving is followed by the biggest retail day of the year. So big in fact, they have given the shopping day it's own name: Black Friday. Stores hold midnight sales, people flock to malls and outlet stores, and Wal-Mart is even crazier than it usually is!
Each year hundreds of thousands of letters are mailed to Santa Clause. The USPS even has a web page dedicated to addressing letters to Santa! Most of us have our wish-list all picked out and are hoping for this thing or that thing. We wrap box after box and stack them under the Christmas tree in the living room. The excitement and anticipation build as the gifts accumulate and December 25 gets closer and closer. There is such a relief when the shopping is done and everyone’s name is marked off our shopping list.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving gifts at Christmas time. I actually think it is a good idea. There were even gifts given at the very first Christmas; gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But I think we need to constantly be reminded that Christmas isn’t about what we give one another. Christmas is ultimately about what God has given us. Christmas is about what Jesus gave when He took on human form and made a reconciliation between God and man.
With every gift you wrap, with every gift you give, and with every gift you receive this Christmas, may you be reminded of God’s gift of Jesus.
[3] Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. [4] Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
[5] Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. [7] He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. [8] And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.
Philip. 2:1-8
The tradition of giving Christmas gifts has become so infused with the celebration of the holiday that many think of the gifts as the reason for Christmas. Thanksgiving is followed by the biggest retail day of the year. So big in fact, they have given the shopping day it's own name: Black Friday. Stores hold midnight sales, people flock to malls and outlet stores, and Wal-Mart is even crazier than it usually is!Each year hundreds of thousands of letters are mailed to Santa Clause. The USPS even has a web page dedicated to addressing letters to Santa! Most of us have our wish-list all picked out and are hoping for this thing or that thing. We wrap box after box and stack them under the Christmas tree in the living room. The excitement and anticipation build as the gifts accumulate and December 25 gets closer and closer. There is such a relief when the shopping is done and everyone’s name is marked off our shopping list.I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving gifts at Christmas time. I actually think it is a good idea. There were even gifts given at the very first Christmas; gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But I think we need to constantly be reminded that Christmas isn’t about what we give one another. Christmas is ultimately about what God has given us. Christmas is about what Jesus gave when He took on human form and made a reconciliation between God and man.
With every gift you wrap, with every gift you give, and with every gift you receive this Christmas, may you be reminded of God’s gift of Jesus.
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