Mom Time News

What Christmas Gift Can We Give God?
by Cheryl R. Carter

This month Christians everywhere will celebrate our Savior's birth. This most momentous event will be marked by cantatas, plays and candle light services. Isn't tradition wonderful? It is a time for gathering around with blood family and our blood-washed family. Yet amid the hubbub of activity Christmas we sometimes forget a simple baby's birth changed the world forever.

Ah, simplicity -not a word we hear much in Christian circles these days. I was talking with a minister recently about long standing issues in the body of Christ. You've heard them all before-racism, sexism, competition and the like. The issue is simple he said; "we don't love one another".

It is that simple. Sometimes we give voice to love but fail to practice love. A friend attended a conference in which the speaker berated Native American culture and customs. The speaker concluded the presentation by saying venomously "I love them but they have to change!" Clearly, she did not love "them". It would have been better for her to acknowledge her sin of hate. Instead of rationalizing her racism, she could have been free for the Lord to deal with the roots of that hate. It is that simple.

It is that simple that the roots of most of our sin often lie in our failure to repent. Repentance is more than just coming to the altar. At the altar we must exchange our selfish motives, wrong attitudes and lazy thinking for the Lord's heart. We ask Him to give us His passions. We ask for Him to motivate us to change. We ask Him to stretch the bounds of our ignorance to embrace His wisdom. He will do it for us. We only have to ask Him. He who asks receives. If we want more of God, we just need to repent. It is that simple.

It is that simple that often as a nation we have turned to our own way. We, the church, read about the children of Israel's reoccurring disobedience and point an accusing finger at them. Yet how many of us have wept for our Jewish brothers and sisters? For truly the Lord choose to hand down a narrative of His working with humanity through our Jewish brethren. As we watch the battles rage in Israel, how many of us understand the biblical and historic significance? Israel is pivotal position right now. We cannot ignore it. We need to be concerned about Israel -not just with our prayers but in practical outreach. Why don't more Jewish people know about the Savior? Because, the gospel has not been presented in love to them. It is that simple.

It is simple fact as the White House changes hands in January, and we usher in a New Year, a new President and a new millennium much needs to be resolved in this world before the Lord's return. I do hope Christians will work hard for the cause of Christ in the arena of politics. As Christians we should take the lead in caring for the poor, educating our citizens, ordering our economic system and tending to "the least among them". For each of us will one day stand before God and give an account for how we have treated our fellow man. For, indeed we are our brother's keeper. It is that simple.

It is a simple fact that God has chosen the simple things of this world to confound the wise. He has chosen to speak through vessels of clay. He has chosen both you and me to carry His word to our generation. I don't know about you but it is an awesome task to love the "un-love-able", to do good to those that despise me. Yet, I am called to love all men. I can make excuses but God will not accept those excuses. He has called me to love in deed and truth. It is that simple

It is a simple fact that when God wanted to teach the world about love, He took the form of a baby. Jesus was born in a manager and wrapped in swaddling clothes. In Jesus' time, swaddling clothing was clothing used to wrap corpses. That's right. Jesus was actually wrapped in death clothing. His birth symbolized His life. Jesus was born to die. It is that simple.

It is the simple fact that the greatest present we can give the world is to become more Christ-like. For we too were born to die. Yet each time we stubbornly resist God's working in our lives to make us more holy we hinder His kingdom. When we pray "thy kingdom come thy will be done", we are in essence saying Lord not my kingdom but your kingdom. You see, we are saying none of me and all of you God. God works through yielded vessels. The greatest gift we can give the world today is to live yielded lives to the Lord. For when we give ourselves freely to the Lord, God offers us back to the world as a gift. It is that simple!

It is a simple fact that the greatest people in the body of Christ have been those who denied all for the cause of Christ. May each of us live lives for the Lord so pleasing that others will want our Jesus. Let people be drawn to us because of the Jesus in us. For we can only give the gift of Christ to the degree we know Him. Let us resolve to know God better this year. For He truly longs to commune with us. May you give to God the same gift He gave to you over 2000 years ago. He gave Himself. Give Him yourself. It is that simple.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl R. Carter keeps looking to the stars as God continues to fulfill all the promises in her life. At times, like Sarah, she is tempted to laugh at their fulfillment but she remains assured that as long as Jesus is on the throne no weapon formed against her will prosper. Visit www.Momtime for more articles, her speaking itinerary and organizing tips.