Recent Devotionals

Like you, I can’t wait to gather with my family by the Christmas tree today. There will be gifts we wrapped for loved ones, hoping they’ll be pleased, and gifts with our names on them creating curiosity in us! Most of the gifts we exchange with one another can be described in some way, but the greatest gift you and I could ever receive came wrapped in swaddling clothes and defies description.

Accepting this indescribable gift has life-altering consequences. Jesus came to live among us to provide something we could never afford—the opportunity to receive what only He could offer: new life, eternal life.

Because He was born, we can be born again.

The greatest gift does not sit under a tree but grafts us into a tree—the family tree of God. When we receive this gift of God, we discover His divine, indwelling presence to be the best present we could ever receive.

But Jesus doesn’t want to be included in our lives just on this high holy day of His birth. He longs for us to invite Him to be our sustaining presence every day. When we unwrap and experience God’s gifts of grace and forgiveness, unconditional love, guidance, and the promise of eternal life, our lives are infused with a joy that must be experienced to be described.

The way we unwrap this gift is with hearts of gratitude, humility, and obedience. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (John 14:21). In this way, our lives become gifts back to God.

If we never open our gift, though, we never experience what’s inside. Unfortunately, many people still have not opened their gift. If you have, ask Jesus how you can be His gift to those you gather with today. If you have never received Jesus, simply reach out and accept what He’s holding out to you and discover for yourself this priceless, indescribable gift!

Dear Heavenly Father, How can I ever thank you enough for the gift of Jesus! Words are just not enough! Please help me live a life that is pleasing to you. Please let my life be a gift to Christ.