Christmas 2013Have you ever done Gary Chapman‘s Five Love Languages test to see what your primary love language is? You don’t get to choose your love language. You answer a series of questions and based on your answers you’re told what your primary love language is, which is not only the best way for people to express love to you, but it’s the predominate way you express love.

My predominate love language is gifts. I love, love, love giving people gifts. I love every aspect of it: choosing the right gift, wrapping it, but most of all delivering it. Acts 20:35 is says,

It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

I can attest to that statement. I gain so much more joy giving than I ever do receiving. I honestly have to watch myself at Christmas and birthdays, because I want to keep on giving. For me, giving gifts is a way to express my love for someone.

We learn to give gifts from the greatest gift giver of all time, the Father. John 3:16 says,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Do not let the familiarity of these words take away from the amazing reality embedded in them. God loved us so much, He held nothing back from us. He gave us His best. He gave us Jesus. Jesus is Christmas and Christmas is Jesus.

During a season when people are running around frantically purchasing things for everyone on their list, pause and soak in the season and what it really means.

Jesus is the first gift of Christmas.

He was given to us out of a deep, abiding love for us. The Father didn’t give us Jesus because we made it on the nice list or because we did something special for Him. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He gave us Jesus, because He knew we needed Him. Romans 5:8 tells us,

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Father’s purpose and motivation for the gift of Jesus was to demonstrate His love for us.

Take a moment from the hustle and bustle of the season, the parties, the shopping, the baking, and the cards to unwrap your Christmas gift from the Father and truly enjoy Him. Then, choose to do Christmas differently this year. Choose to give this Christmas away.

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