Is this the season ‘with a song in the air’?  Instead the song has only one word, maybe two–sale, sale…buy, buy!   Christmas joy determined by the deepest discount,  the biggest holiday bonus or corporate bottom-line success.  ‘Tis the season to be selling…buying!

We as Christians are uncomfortable with this merchandizing of the Messiah.  We should be.  In Galatians 4:1  the Apostle Paul talks about the fullness of time, when God sent His Son, the promised Messiah.  Christmas…the giving of a gift from God to all the world.  A gift.  Given.  Not earned.  Not deserved.  Not anything but a gift willingly given out of the best motive of all… love.  Love without strings.  Love that can’t be repaid or even reciprocated.  Not really.

But it can be received.  As a gift.  Graciously.  Thankfully.  Humbly and possibly on our knees with our hands outstretched, reaching up to God Himself, the Giver of all good gifts.  I was looking at Galatians 4:9.  Was stuck here for a moment.  Had to reread it.  ‘But now that you have come to know God–or rather are known by God…’  Yes, when we believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him into our lives, when we decide to trust Him and throw our hats into His ring, we begin a lifelong relationship with God Himself.  That’s big, indeed!  Here’s something bigger–‘…or rather to be known by God…’  It’s one thing to know God.  That’s amazing in itself.  What really grabbed me was the thought that God had been seeking to know me.

The Lord has been on the lookout for you.  Hunting high and low, under every rock, in every crevice, over hill and vale.  Searching for, reaching out to and sacrificing everything… to know us.  To have a relationship with us.  He loves every bit of us, warts and all.  Christmas is about God’s giving all that He had and all that He cherished.  God’s gift.  His open hands, extended toward us, hoping we’ll take His… and thank Him and cherish Him because we are known and loved by Him!  Known by Him!  We are His…forever!

Prayer:  Oh Lord, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.  And thank you for knocking at our doors with hands wide open, giving the gift of Jesus.  Amen.